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February 21, 2022Parishioners and Friends,
Lent prompts us to begin with the end in mind. During this season there will several events and opportunities to strengthen our faith lives and to prepare ourselves for the most sacred three days of our faith, the Triduum. (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday as pre-cursors to Easter Sunday). This Lent, we can immerse ourselves more deeply in our faith with How to Catholic, work on our prayer and praise with Wednesday music worship or add daily mass to our schedules as we celebrate during the week.
As a parish that believes in radical generosity, we particularly want to offer an opportunity to achieve this through a 40-day Lenten generosity challenge. Instead of looking at the traditional, prayer, sacrifice, and almsgiving, as an individual experience of giving up, we are asking everyone to find ways to be giving in their daily lives by choosing a different activity each day and living it to the fullest. We invite you to write out in one sentence what you have done each day and then bring it to the church every Sunday. You may keep it anonymous, or you can share your experiences on our MQOA Connections page.
Here is the challenge. Do at least one thing every day! Can’t think of anything? We have a list of what you might do. They are of different levels of challenge, but the parish goal is to encourage everyone to make a conscious effort to grow in their generosity toward God and others.
On Holy Saturday at the sacred fire as the evening begins we will burn the papers as part of our offering to God that they might rise like incense to our heavenly Father. These flames will be what we use to light the Easter Candle, which represents that Christ has pierced the darkness of sin and allowed us to follow his light, but also bear his light to all. This is the year that we can make an effort to be more generous and bring hope, healing, peace, grace, and light to our lives, our parish, and our city.
Peace,
Fr. Murray
