Beloved Parishioners,
The holy season of Lent is here. A favourable time. A time of grace. Recently, Melinda, Carla and I were talking about what we are going to give up during Lent. For me, I knew I had to give up my Sunday evening cold beer. Amidst the discussion, Melinda said: ‘It’s not really so much what we are going to give up but more importantly what we are going to do.’ Right!
Of course, giving up food, chocolate, beer or wine would help to increase our hunger and thirst for God so that we may rediscover the riches hidden in Christ.
In Mark 8: 22 – 26, Jesus healed a blind man. Usually when He heals people, it is instant and complete, but in this case, it was gradual, he sees people who look like trees, and slowly he received his full sight. Symbolically, this miracle is meant to show us that no one sees all God’s truth at once. One of the dangers of certain evangelization is that it encourages the idea that when a person has taken the decision for Christ, he or she is a full grown Christian. So far from that being the case. The decision is always the beginning of the road. It is the discovery of the riches of Christ which are inexhaustible, and if a person lives a hundred, or a thousand, or a million years, he would still have to go on growing in grace, and learning more and more about the infinite wonder and beauty of Jesus of Nazareth.
May the Holy Spirit show each of us what we must do this Lent to grow in holiness and in our relationship with Jesus and to enter deeply into the inexhaustible riches hidden in Him.
Some suggestions:
- Spend some time with Him in the Church as you read your Bible or a book.
Keep reading a good Catholic book. Remember I asked everyone to read three Catholic books this year. If you haven’t started, you can begin this Lent. - Pray the Rosary and meditate on the mysteries.
- Re-start a family tradition that helps keep the family united in love and prayer.
- Give alms
- Parish Stations of the Cross every Friday.
Decide to spread love everywhere. May you have a grace-filled, joyful and meaningful Lent. Let’s make 2023 Lent the best!
Your brother, Fr. Obi
February 21: Shrove Tuesday—5pm St. Ann’s Hall
Please come and enjoy a pancake dinner with your family & fellow parishioners as we prepare for the upcoming Lenten season. Cost is by donation and will begin at 5pm is St. Ann’s Hall.
Upcoming Youth Retreat: NET
Thank you for praying for our youth—that this Retreat may draw them into a deeper relationship with Jesus. Junior Youth at St. Ann’s Fri, 5:30—10pm & Sat 8—11am.
Senior Youth at St. John Vianney, Sat., 5:30—10pm & Sunday 9am—1pm.
February, 22 Ash Wednesday Mass times
- 9:00am – St. Ann: School Mass
- 6:30pm – St. John Vianney
Thank you for the items you donated for Turkey & Syria.
They’ll be flown to them this weekend.