You will recall that our Holy Father, Pope Francis, inaugurated the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025 last Christmas Eve with the call for all of us to be pilgrims of hope. Jubilee Years are special years that focus on remission of sins and the call for universal renewal. Each year, the Church, in her wisdom, offers us the liturgical Season of Lent, a season for reconciliation and renewal in preparation for the hope that Easter offers us all as we celebrate the new life Jesus offers through his death and Resurrection.
On Ash Wednesday, we will again be made aware of our sinfulness and our need for salvation. We are called to choose to accompany Jesus as he offers his life to save us. On Ash Wednesday, we will receive ashes on our forehead as both a sign of repentance and a call to choose to prepare for our eternal salvation. This is why the person who imposes ashes has a choice of two formulas: “Repent and believe in the Gospel,” or “Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return.” As we repent of our sins we live in the hope that, although we will return to dust, we also are given the promise of new life in heaven.
In preparation for the Lenten Season, I offer you copies of the popular Lenten Black Book at the church entrances for your edification. Feel free to take one for yourself and another for a friend or neighbor who isn’t able to come to church in person. This booklet offers brief, thought-provoking reflections for every day of Lent. This year, it provides inspirational meditations on our Lord’s Passion according to the Gospel of John.
This is also a very good time to take advantage of the healing Sacrament of Reconciliation, which is scheduled every Saturday 4:00 – 4:45pm, except on Holy Saturday (19 April). And, we will again host a regional Lenten Penance Service on Wednesday, 20 March, beginning at 7:00pm.
On Wednesday, 2 April, we will have our Lenten Evening of Reflection beginning with Mass at 6:45pm. Fr. Gary McCloskey, OSA, will offer insights into living in hope in the face of our sinfulness before God who loves us all. Mark your calendars and plan to attend!
We will also have Stations of the Cross throughout Lent at 7:00pm every Friday evening. Our school students will present their annual Living Stations on Friday, 11 April. This is a very moving way to prepare for Holy Week, which begins with Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord just two days later, on 13 April. We will celebrate the beautiful Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:00pm on Holy Thursday followed by a Holy Hour led by our Knights of Columbus and time for private adoration until 10:00pm. On Good Friday, everyone is invited to join with our fellow Christians at the Wayne Methodist Church at 11:45am. We will process from there to Wayne Presbyterian Church for the annual Wayne Ecumenical Ministerium Good Friday Service that begins at 12:00noon. We will also celebrate the Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion at 3:00pm here in our church. We’re privileged to have the Ama Deus Ensemble perform the Bach St. John Passion beginning at 7:00pm that same evening, also in our church. All of these events will offer us very powerful occasions to close this most Holy Week of the year.
Another essential aspect of the Lenten Season is almsgiving. As we become aware of the great sacrifice our Lord, Jesus, made for us on the cross, we are called to share in his sacrifice by sharing the abundance of God’s gifts with those in need around the world. Operation Rice Bowl, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is an excellent way to do just that. Rice Bowls are at the church entrances for your use. Over the past few years, these Rice Bowl packets have become more interesting, with reflections on the Church in variety of areas in the world that Catholic Relief Services supports through your donations. This year, the countries are Nigeria, Guatemala and Bangladesh. You can meet the members of your global family through the QR code on the Rice Bowl or the informational pamphlet enclosed in the Rice bowl or at crsricebowl.org/join.
This Jubilee Year also provides many opportunities for indulgences, a longstanding tradition through which we care for our fellow Christians who have died and are in Purgatory awaiting entry into Heaven. During this Jubilee Year, you may even obtain two indulgences a day if you fulfill the requirements laid out in the Decree on Granting of Indulgences during the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025. You will find that decree online; simply type in its name.
Yes, this is a very important time for us Christians. Let us take the opportunity, once again, to join together in turning back to God and to each other as we, pilgrims of hope, prepare to celebrate the hope of new life that we receive in the Risen Lord at Easter!