Lent
We Will Rise Again and Again and Again
Dr. Jo Ann Paradise Comments Off on We Will Rise Again and Again and Again
Working in parish ministry for 45 years now, I do not once recall planning for the Easter season. There were many extended meetings about Advent that included what exactly is the shade of purple that denotes the season. There were even longer meetings about Lent. How do we facilitate making room for the Holy Spirit Read More
Embracing Penitential Prayer
Father Ronald Patrick Raab Comments Off on Embracing Penitential Prayer
Prayer is not a commodity or an accomplishment. Prayer resides in the deepest silence of our being. Prayer is a relationship with divine love, and the words we utter come from our most profound needs. We don’t pray to make us look good. One aspect of liturgical prayer, however, is that of witness. During Lent, Read More
Ash Wednesday Charts a Course for All of Lent
Father Gerald Dennis Gill Comments Off on Ash Wednesday Charts a Course for All of Lent
For many people, Ash Wednesday stands alone at the beginning of Lent with the imposition of blessed ashes. The relationship of this day to all of Lent and to Easter receives little reflection. However, Ash Wednesday has a definite purpose for charting the course for the Christian observance of Lent, a time of intense “purification Read More
The Desert Experience
Bishop David J. Bonnar Comments Off on The Desert Experience
When I was a seminarian living at the North American College in Rome, our formators used to speak about priestly formation as a “desert experience.” Even though we were nestled in one of the largest cities in the world with so much noise and traffic, there was something to be said about this imagery. Formation Read More
Encountering the ‘Crypts’ of Lent
Father Michael Ackerman Comments Off on Encountering the ‘Crypts’ of Lent
Retreats and days of recollection are common during Lent, and confirmation retreats are no stranger to the season. In our diocese, there is a Passionist monastery that has long been a favorite destination for the confirmandi from our parish and several others. Looking back, our attendees were usually excited about the retreat because it meant Read More
Making the Most of a Sacred Time
Bishop David J. Bonnar Comments Off on Making the Most of a Sacred Time
The holy season of Lent is a dedicated time for personal conversion through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. This sacred time of repentance calls us to turn away from sin and grow more deeply in our relationship with Jesus Christ. How inspiring it is for us priests to witness the uptick in participation by the faithful. Read More
Throwing Rocks
Father Ronald Patrick Raab Comments Off on Throwing Rocks
In Lent, Jesus holds a mirror to our conscience. In John 8-11, again this year, we enter the circle with religious leaders, a silent woman and Jesus. We listen carefully to the intent of religious leaders. They are fulfilling the law of condemnation, bringing to Jesus a sinful woman. The circle becomes tight with blame. Read More
COVID-19: A pastor’s perspective: Embrace Lent Like Never Before
Father David J. Bonnar Comments Off on COVID-19: A pastor’s perspective: Embrace Lent Like Never Before
Every Lenten journey from year to year is different. Some are better than others. Some are more memorable than others. Perhaps you will agree that this current experience of Lent, when all is said and done, will be unforgettable and forever ingrained in our hearts. The coronavirus pandemic really is a call to dig even Read More