A Season of Renewal in the Jubilee Year
Dear Parishioners,
As we continue our journey through this Jubilee Year, we enter the sacred sea-son of Lent, a time of reflection, penance, and spiritual renewal. Lent calls us to conversion, drawing us closer to Christ through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. As we begin this holy season on Ash Wednesday, March 5, I invite you to attend Masses and/or the service at our parish. Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence, as is Good Friday. In addition, all Fridays of Lent are days of absti-nence from meat. Fasting, which applies to those ages 18–59, allows for one full meal and two smaller meals that together do not equal another full meal, while abstinence from meat applies to those 14 and older.
During this Lenten season, I invite you to join us in praying the Stations of the Cross every Friday in our parish. This devotion allows us to walk with Christ in His Passion and deepen our understanding of His sacrifice for us. I also encourage you to refer to the bulletin for other Lenten activities offered in our parish and take part in them as we journey together through this sacred season.
As I write this article, the whole world is united in prayer for the health of Pope Francis. May the Lord grant him strength and healing. Closer to home, we rejoice as the Archdiocese of Chicago celebrat-ed the ordination of five new bishops at Holy Name Cathedral on Wednesday, February 26. Let us pray for them as they begin their new ministry of service.
March also brings two beautiful solemnities: the Solemnity of St. Joseph on March 19, honoring the patron of the Universal Church, and the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord on March 25, cel-ebrating Mary’s “yes” to God’s plan for our salvation. These feasts remind us of the faith and obedi-ence that guide us in our own journey. Of course, on March 17 the Church honors one of our church-es’ patron saints, Saint Patrick!
Additionally, on March 8, we will celebrate the First Reconciliation of Saint Patrick School and SRE children. Please keep these young souls in your prayers as they experience the grace of God's for-giveness for the first time.
Lent is an especially meaningful time for our OCIA candidates and catechumens as they prepare to be received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. Let us accompany them with our prayers and encouragement as they take these final steps toward full communion with the Church.
May this Lenten season be a time of grace and renewal for each of us. Let us embrace the call to conversion with open hearts, trusting in God's mercy and love.
In Christ,
Fr. Wojciech Oleksy