Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Welcome to our holy season of Lent! It’s finally here this year. We are only a few days into the season, but how are you doing so far? Have you kept your Lenten commitments? Is what you are doing too easy or is it too difficult? Every time I think that what I’m doing for Lent is too hard, I remember Jesus on that cross and it pretty much puts everything into perspective. Again, together, let’s make this the best Lent that we have ever had!

This weekend we send our brothers and sisters who are Catechumens to Bishop Higi in Lafayette for the Rite of Recognition and Election. This will take place at our Cathedral in Lafayette on Sunday afternoon. At 10:00 AM Mass, we will celebrate the Rite of Sending, as we bless all of those who are to be Baptized this Easter and send them to the Bishop. Next weekend, all of our Catechumens and all of our Candidates for full membership in the Church and Confirmation, who, by the way are now referred to as “the Elect”, will be going on their RCIA Retreat, as a big part of their final preparation for Easter and the Sacraments of Initiation. Let us remember to keep all of these individuals in our prayers during this season of Lent.

You know, Lent is directed in a very special way towards all of those who are joining the Church this Easter, our Elect. We pray for them. We celebrate the Rites and Scrutinies with them leading up to the Easter Vigil. We continue to strive to be good examples for them in our lives. This is a big deal. As Church, we are preparing to welcome our newest brothers and sisters into the family. We can’t do this and NOT also reflect and think about our own Baptisms, and Confirmations, and Faith lives. We have all been called by God to be His holy people. Whether we were baptized eighty years ago, or we just went through RCIA last year, we have to be struck by the power of what are new brothers and sisters are going through on their way to Easter. As we prepare to renew our Baptismal promises on Easter, and as our Elect enter their final preparations to make these promises for the first time, let us all do every thing that we can to take seriously this commitment. We are not just getting ready for Easter, but we are also ALL getting ready to re-commit our lives to Jesus. Maybe it’s time that all of us asked ourselves if we REALLY ARE going to follow Jesus and His way in the Catholic Church this year? An honesty and integrity are called for from each of us. The hard truth is that there are some Catholics who shouldn’t renew their Baptismal promises again this Easter. They shouldn’t renew them because they have no intention of living them out in their lives. These last two sentences will upset many of us. But isn’t it time to be honest? How long can we as Church look “the other way” while people who claim to be our brothers and sisters, go through the motions of being Catholic Christians? Don’t get me wrong. We WANT EVERYBODY. But all of us have to keep growing in our Faith and in putting our Faith into action in our lives. Honestly, some people aren’t prepared to do that at this point in their lives. Lent is our time for each one of us to think and pray about this. How committed are we? What can we do to become more committed?

The Men’s Christ Renews His Parish weekend is going on this weekend. We keep all of the guys involved in our prayers. I love the Christ Renews His Parish process and I am so proud that St. Maria Goretti is so committed to making sure that it continues. Christ Renews His Parish moves people out of their complacency. And all of us can become complacent in our Faith. We also pray this weekend for the guys who are making the Men’s Cursillo weekend down at St. Bernadette’s. This is another way to grow our Faith, and we hope and pray that good things are happening down in Indianapolis this weekend too.

Don’t forget the annual Parish Lenten Mission. This year’s mission begins on Sunday evening, March 19 th, at 7:00 PM. The Redemptorist Fathers from Chicago have a powerful week planned for all of us. The Lenten Mission will conclude with a special Mass on Thursday, March 23 rd. And then, capping off an awesome week, Dr. Scott Hahn will be here from 11:00 AM until 3:00 PM on Saturday, March 25 th. Plan now to attend all of these outstanding opportunities!

Don’t forget that the Stations of the Cross are prayed each Friday evening during Lent at 7:00 PM in Church. And the Holy Name Society’s first Lenten Fish Fry of the season is this coming Friday night. Come and enjoy some really good fish that will make you forget that eating fish is a sacrifice. Have a great week!

In Christ,

Fr. Kevin

He who leaves God out of his reckoning does not know how to count.