Of fish plates, Stations of the Cross and Mission week and more

 We all just navigated the 1st Friday of Lent and it was packed with all one would expect of the Catholic life for such a day, such a time as this.  There is something special about Lent, an awakening, a real desire to return to the Lord, to seek forgiveness and reconciliation for we long for grace and mercy.  We just began Lent on Wednesday with the sign of the Cross placed on our foreheads with ashes, the ashes made from the blessed Palm branches from last year's Pal Sunday celebration.  Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.  And we are reminded also to turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel.

In the life of my home parish we began the day as we always do with Holy Mass.  It is a rare exception when we do not begin the day with Mass, every day, no time off.  If a Priest is not available, the Deacon (often me) will preside at a Liturgy of the Word with Communion from the hosts consecrated and reposed in the tabernacle.  On this 1st Friday of March, and Lent, we followed Mass with Eucharistic Adoration that lasts almost all day.  While the faithful recite the Rosary, Father takes his place in the confessional as our Lord remains exposed on the Altar in a beautiful Monstrance for all to adore the Real Presence of the Lord.

Meanwhile, across the street, our parish Knights of Columbus are busy preparing for the Lenten Fish Fry.  This is our 22nd Lent offering these dinners which feed the community and help raise much needed funds for the many ministries and needs of the parish.  As evening turns to night, confessions resume in the Church and then at 6 pm we begin a holy time of Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Benediction.  Tonight, the crowd was much larger than most months.  Then, as we arrive at the 7 pm hour we pray the Stations of the Cross with about 80 people present.  We adore you O Christ and we praise thee, because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world!

As Stations concludes, our visiting mission preacher arrives to spend a week here with us and help us to enhance our Lenten journey.  Word comes to me that the Fish Fry had about 550 meals served.  And we retire for the evening in holy exhaustion.

Lent is underway and so is the devotional life of our parish.  The Mission awaits us in the days ahead, may Lent be a great time of holiness and mercy; come and join us