Father Michael's Column

If you really are perfectly content with what you see in the world around you, with its culture of violence, its confusion over moral issues, cancel culture, its increasing devaluation of the human person, and it’s political turmoil, well, you probably don’t need Lent…although you might need therapy. 

Lent is a time when we are called to do penance and seek a change of heart, both for our own personal failings and for those of the world around us. It’s a time to tune in more clearly to God and His plan for our lives. It’s a time to pull back, slow down, evaluate, reflect, and then get re-energized for the task ahead! 

What task ahead? Glad you asked! We have been called to UNLEASH THE GOSPEL, and we’ve already begun that task. Then Archbishop Vigneron gave us our marching orders in his pastoral letter of the same name. It was formally promulgated in 2017—which, in our fast-paced world might seem to make it really old news—but it requires such deep revisions of the Church’s life that, while we’ve made serious progress in many ways, “we’ve only just begun.” Also, we are becoming very much aware that our society has undergone a profound cultural shift in the underlying, unspoken assumptions that underpin any society. That shift is so seismic that we can no longer operate in “business as usual” mode. What had been known as “Christendom” is gone. We must now operate in “Apostolic Mission” mode. That requires committed disciples, ready to witness to Christ despite an often hostile world. 

Once again this Lent, as a parish and as individuals, we have an opportunity to focus our attention on our MISSION. 

It’s easy, in the rush and anxiety of day-to-day activity, to lose sight of what we’re trying to accomplish. (In other words, lose our Vision.) As the old saying goes, “When you’re up to your armpits in alligators, it’s hard to remember your original intention was to drain the swamp.” Our MISSION, given by Jesus Christ himself, is to make disciples.  Of course, to do that, we have to become great disciples ourselves. As a parish we have a formal Mission Statement that expresses both these mandates. Can you recite it from memory? If not, practice! (Hint: it’s on the front page of our bulletin.) 

Personally, I am really looking forward to Lent this year! I always find it to be a time of renewal for me. Lent begins this Wednesday. Start praying now that you, your family, and our parish, will have a beautiful Lent this year.

It is a "penitential" season (that's why there is little in the way of floral decor around the sanctuary during Lent, since the whole Church is in a more reflective, introspective mood), but that does not mean that it has to be a depressing time; quite the opposite. I encourage you to make whatever decisions are necessary to ensure that THIS Lent will be truly blessed for you: a time of prayer, a time of penance, a time of reconciliation, a time of growth, a time that leads to joy!

There is always joy when we find ourselves growing closer to the Lord. How close we are to the Lord is a measure of how “holy” we are. It’s been said that there is little difference between true “wholeness”, and “holiness”. (This is another way of saying that the Lord actually wants you to be happy!) 

So that our parish might grow in holiness, I especially encourage your family to be absolutely faithful in “keeping HOLY the Lord’s Day”. In his pastoral letter, the Archbishop charged families “to reclaim Sunday: attend Mass as a family and intentionally spend time with one another, including sharing a meal together.” Mass is central to what we are all about as Catholics—just as, within families, having meals together bonds and builds the family. Under Church Law, attendance at Mass each Sunday is still considered a serious matter. But even more than whether people are fulfilling an obligation, I don’t want anyone to needlessly miss out of the deep-rooted joy that can come from the regular celebration of Eucharist, worshipping as a community and sharing Holy Communion. I’m glad that at least the livestream of our Sunday celebration still provides some connection for those who are homebound. 

Remember that Ash Wednesday is a day of FAST and ABSTINENCE. The specifics of the law are detailed in this bulletin—but a word of caution here: these laws are designed to describe the minimum we should do. They are not designed to tell us the maximum. Sometimes taking on a little more than is minimally required can be a big benefit to your spiritual life. For example, try fasting every Friday of Lent instead of just abstaining from meat—and younger children can join the rest of the family in abstaining from meat on Fridays. 

Note to all, regarding “Abstinence”: The law applies to ALL Catholics age 14 and older, and applies on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent. Senior citizens are not exempt!  I’ve heard some confusion on that point, probably because adults 60 and older are not obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Again, the law stipulates the minimum. Personally, even though I’m 78, I plan on fasting. 

Children are certainly welcome to join the adults for Parish prayer opportunities such as the public recitation of the Stations of the Cross on Fridays at 7PM. Stations are followed by Night Prayer. The exception to this schedule is on Friday, March 27^th, when our Parish Director of Music, Bill Richart, will once again present a very special experience of the Stations. That particular event, also at 7 PM, lasts a little over an hour-and-a half, is very informative, and, I might add, is very moving as well. 

Because it has been so popular, we will be celebrating the Liturgy of the Hours (Morning Prayer) on Mondays and Fridays of Lent. Morning Prayer will be at 8 o’clock and it takes about 20 minutes. Weekday Morning Mass, as usual, is on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. 

Again this year, through the generosity of our Dad’s Club and the Knights of Columbus, there are printed aids available to help you in your Lenten journey. Copies of “The Little Black Book’” and the Lenten edition of “The Word Among Us” are available in the Tower Entrances, while they last. (The Spanish edition of “The Little Black Book”. has a glossier cover.) 

I’ve finalized the extra times for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and these will be published soon. Stay tuned. Or better yet, make sure that the Parish has your email address (which we always treat confidentially) so that I can advise you as things come up. Just call us and let us know what it is. Even easier, just email us with your name, and address, and say “Here’s my email!” Send it to Karen Sommers who is in charge of our data. The email address is ksommers@stwilliam.com.

In Jesus,
Fr. Michael



P.S. Please keep in your daily prayer the success of our very important offertory increase campaign, Committed to Christ—Giving Gratefully. Lent can be a special time for some people to pray about moving their giving to a sacrificial level. And pray especially for those families of our parish that have fallen away from the full practice of their Faith—that they be drawn back to share the Eucharist with us. God bless!