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Dear Friends in Christ,
There are some big things coming up, depending on your point of view. This Sunday, February 11 is the “Super Bowl” between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. Folks not particularly fond of football may tune into that one to get a glimpse of Taylor Swift rooting for the Chiefs. I’m neutral about the outcome but will probably watch the game to enjoy the creative commercials.
Wednesday, February 14 is of course “Valentine's Day,” an opportunity to show our love to those special people in our lives with a gift of chocolates or some flowers. As important as that is, this year February 14th is also “Ash Wednesday” which for us as Catholics is the most significant event of all coming up.
The season of Lent that Ash Wednesday begins has been called “The spring training of the Christian life.” It invites us to focus for 40 days on deeper levels of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in preparation for the great feast of Easter which this year is March 31. Wednesday, February 14 we will have Mass with the distribution of ashes at 9:00 am and 6:30 pm. Please plan on attending. Check our parish media for other Lenten resources, including the “Rice Bowl Program.” This is a wonderful opportunity to make small sacrifices that save money to place in the rice bowls. Some families, parents, and children alike, decide to put their loose change in their rice bowls every night. The offerings throughout the archdiocese are collected at the end of Lent and distributed to support self-help programs that equip people to provide for themselves and not just rely on charity.
When we receive Ashes this coming Wednesday, we will hear words that encourage us to “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel.” Those are words to remember and follow every day of our lives.
Blessings of peace,
Fr. William Heric, Pastor
