Last week, some of the parish staff went to Maria Villa del Mar Retreat House for our annual ‘days to plan and reflect.’ A couple of staff were not able to attend because of illness and other commitments.
Nevertheless, those present had good discussions and time to reflect on the past year’s hundred anniversary celebrations and comments made at our annual ‘listening sessions.’
We are all grateful for the ongoing support and generosity that is generated in the parish. The ‘end of the year’ appeal response allowed us to keep a balanced budget, but the reality is that costs are increasing, and our numbers are decreasing due to the advancement of age for some, a job move out of our area for others and other reasons. As I mentioned at one of the ‘listening sessions,’ the 100th demonstrated great warmth and hospitality characteristic of our parish, but we need to grow going forward.
I specifically asked at that forum and ask all of you to invite a friend, family, neighbor, acquaintance to join us for worship, a program we sponsor or a path to walk with wonderful people as we affirm and are nurtured by our religion and faith.
At each of the ‘listening sessions’ someone asked what they could do for our parish staff. Please pray for us, offer to help when we can’t do it all and volunteer as you are able when we need volunteers (changing environment for a liturgical season, coordinate a pancake breakfast, become a lector or Eucharistic minister, etc.)
Lent is a great time to personally invite someone!
Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent this week.
To help keep us on track, the church offers us three pillars to focus our efforts during the 40 days of Lent: prayer,
fasting and
almsgiving.
- Prayer is the foundation that keeps us rooted in our relationship with God throughout the Lenten season. As we increase our time in prayer, we grow closer to him and allow our hearts to be transformed.
- Fasting is a practice of self-discipline where we intentionally give something up during Lent. By doing so, we create space for God to work in our hearts and unite our sacrifices with Christ’s own suffering.
- Almsgiving puts faith into action by giving our money, time, or resources to those in need. Through almsgiving, we learn to let go of material attachments and reflect God’s love and mercy in a tangible way.
God calls us to begin or strengthen our daily prayer regimen so that we may come to know him on a personal level. If we are truly going to grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ, increasing our time in prayer is exactly where we need to start.
Watch for several traditions we have kept at St. Theresa’s each Lent such as the annual Seder dinner and wonderful liturgical celebrations during Holy Week. This year it appears there will be a couple of adults and children who will be fully initiated into the faith on Holy Saturday. I invite you in a special way to pray for them and their discernment. Come to more daily Masses, Monday through Friday at 8:30am. Be attentive with the Lenten reflection books available and besides giving up a favorite food or beverage, is there a bad habit we can also refrain from this year?
Happy Lent! May the good things God begins and nourishes within each of us be brought to fulfillment.