Dear People of Our Lady,
In a few short days, on March 4, we have our Pancake Supper at 5.30 pm, which will be cooked by the men of the Mission; the next day sees the beginning of Lent, Ash Wednesday. There will be Mass with imposition of ashes at 12 Noon at Our Lady, and Mass at 6.30 pm at St. Mary's, Hillsboro. Please make every effort to attend one of these services in order to start the Lenten season well, with humble, repentant worship.
Also, to help us draw closer to God during Lent, there will be Stations of the Cross at 5.30 pm on Thursdays at Our Lady, and Mass at 10.30 am on Saturdays, followed by a class entitled "Christian basics." All are welcome.
I pray that we use these services and this penitential time to draw closer to God and deepen our relationship with Him. This inevitably entails a rejection of sin and the temptations that lead us to it, to which end the Church encourages us to pray, fast, study, examine our consciences and repent of all wrongdoing and wickedness.
But repentance is not just about saying no to sin, it also means saying yes to a more godly and virtuous life. With that as our focus, we must ask God to give us the grace to live better Christian lives, lives that are full of His love, mercy and forgiveness. Then, having died to all that is sinful and striven for the good that is to be found in the life in Christ, we will have found not only the Cross but also the empty tomb of the Resurrection.
May our practice of Lent lead us to that and the life promised to all God’s faithful people.
With every blessing,
Fr. Michael
In a few short days, on March 4, we have our Pancake Supper at 5.30 pm, which will be cooked by the men of the Mission; the next day sees the beginning of Lent, Ash Wednesday. There will be Mass with imposition of ashes at 12 Noon at Our Lady, and Mass at 6.30 pm at St. Mary's, Hillsboro. Please make every effort to attend one of these services in order to start the Lenten season well, with humble, repentant worship.
Also, to help us draw closer to God during Lent, there will be Stations of the Cross at 5.30 pm on Thursdays at Our Lady, and Mass at 10.30 am on Saturdays, followed by a class entitled "Christian basics." All are welcome.
I pray that we use these services and this penitential time to draw closer to God and deepen our relationship with Him. This inevitably entails a rejection of sin and the temptations that lead us to it, to which end the Church encourages us to pray, fast, study, examine our consciences and repent of all wrongdoing and wickedness.
But repentance is not just about saying no to sin, it also means saying yes to a more godly and virtuous life. With that as our focus, we must ask God to give us the grace to live better Christian lives, lives that are full of His love, mercy and forgiveness. Then, having died to all that is sinful and striven for the good that is to be found in the life in Christ, we will have found not only the Cross but also the empty tomb of the Resurrection.
May our practice of Lent lead us to that and the life promised to all God’s faithful people.
With every blessing,
Fr. Michael