Please note that the Lenten season is drawing close and thus on February 17th we will observe Ash Wednesday and the start of the sacred Lenten season. Traditionally this Sunday was known as Septuagesima Sunday which means seventy days, for we now stand roughly 70 days to our celebration of Easter. Traditionally the priest would begin to wear violet on this Sunday to remind the faithful of their need to prepare for the coming of Lent. I therefore invite each of you to be attentive to the coming of this season and to begin to prepare your heart and soul to enter into it.
As was stated in the verse for our Responsorial Psalm: “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” The Lord is continually calling each of us to turn toward Him. The more that we are willing to turn toward Him the more perfectly we will come to hear this voice being proclaimed unto us. Sadly, so many allow their heart to grow hardened. Due to the busyness and noise of this life it is so easy for us to fail to hear and respond to God’s call. A taboo word that we might hear is “stewardship.” Stewardship should not be a taboo word, but instead should become a way of life. If we hear the voice of the Lord we will hear an invitation to give a grateful response for we are called to be Christian disciples who recognize and receive God’s gifts and to share these gifts in love of God and our neighbor.
During the Lenten season we will hold our Parish Day of Recollection on March 13th and Deacon Hicks Armor will be at our parish to present a retreat on stewardship. It is my hope that we can formulate an understanding of stewardship as something that transcends the giving of money for it relates to our full involvement in the life of our parish.
We are called to support the good of the parish as well as the diocese. Next Sunday we will have the annual bishop’s appeal which has been entitled, “Anchored in Christ.” I personally like this title because the motto of our parish school is “Anchored in Love” and this weekend kicks off Catholic Schools Week. When we hear the voice of Christ we hear the voice of Christ which calls us to love. The anchor serves as a symbol of the virtue of hope. With all that we have endured during this past year we need this glimmer of hope which comes to us from Christ and His love.
The annual bishop’s appeal helps to support so many ministries which make up our diocese. These ministries flow into this parish. From this appeal we are able to support the formation of Christian faithful, provide for the education of our clergy and seminarians, assist with the needs of Catholic Charities, provide campus ministry, assist with efforts of justice and peace, and the mobile clinic which serves in areas of our diocese which are most in need of medical help.
I hope that each of you will support the annual bishop’s appeal in some way. If you are unable to give financially please remember to pray for the success of this appeal. The works of this appeal truly help to share the love of Christ with many throughout the diocese. The more that we come to know Christ and trust in Him the more that we will be given the hope to endure the trials in this life which may lay ahead. Let us remember to orient our mind towards the Lord always in order that we may come to hear His voice and respond to His call. Let us be Christian disciples who recognize and receive God’s gifts and be willing to share these gifts in love of God and our neighbor.
