Embracing Conversion and Community During Lent

03-23-2025Weekly ReflectionFr. Fred Adamson

Dear Parishioners,

We are well into the journey of Lent – entering into our third week. The evening talks by Bishop Wall were a blessing – taking time to open our hearts to the way the Lord speaks to us through the Saints. We are all called to be imitators of Him and their example helps us to embrace our own call to holiness.

This week, we have several opportunities to strengthen our understanding of God’s love for us. First, on Monday, March 24th, we have our Lenten Penance Service with several visiting priests to hear confessions. As we make the Lenten journey, our hope is to turn from sin and turn toward Christ, our strength. By going to confession, we are set free of those things that bind us and pull us down. Confession makes room for God’s goodness and love to dwell in us. It is a Sacrament of mercy and grace. It is also one of humility – it is humbling to confess our weaknesses, faults, temptations and sins. Yet, when we do, we can trust that the merciful heart of Jesus meets our humble heart. For this reason, we offer this special night to encounter God’s mercy and love as well as the extra times for Confession on Wednesdays and Saturdays. If it has been awhile, we will provide an aid for the Sacrament to help guide you. I assure you, we, as priests, are used to helping people in the Confessional. Trust in God’s mercy.

On Tuesday night, I am offering a faith sharing opportunity to reflect on Fr. Michael Gaitley’s book The Second Greatest Story Ever Told, about the way God acted through St. Maximillian Kolbe, St. Faustina, Saint John Paul II and the land of Poland, to share that we are in a time of mercy. This is open to all and is seven weeks long on Tuesday evenings, from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. As a special gift, we will then share a virtual pilgrimage with everyone in the parish in May when we journey to Poland. This time together will help us all develop a deeper understanding of God’s mercy and these great saints of Poland.

On Wednesday evening, we will gather in the courtyard of the parish shortly after sunset for Adoration under the Stars – starting at 7:00 pm. Our focus will be on prayers to strengthen us in the virtue of hope. We will lift our hopes up to the Lord and also take time to reflect on His hope for us as a people of God. Bring a folding chair, a blanket or use one of our chairs to sit in the presence of our Eucharistic Lord in the beauty of the desert night as Pilgrims of Hope on a journey to the cross this season of Lent.

Of course, we also continue Soup and Stations on Friday evenings, which offers time to walk the journey of the cross with our Lord. Reflecting on His suffering and death, and the meaning it brings to us in our own journey. There are always two types of soup, grilled cheese and mac and cheese at the meal. This is a wonderful Lenten practice that helps prepare us for Holy Week.

I am so grateful to God for this community and the way you are embracing the call to conversion and growing as missionary disciples. Lent is not my favorite season in the Church. I think because it feels kind of prickly and dry sometimes. It is the call in the desert to open our hearts to growth and that means truly examining our lives, to hand over to Jesus on the Cross the things that keep us from our call to holiness as individuals, families and a community. Dying to self to live for others is only possible united to the love that pours out in the Paschal mystery – His suffering, death and resurrection. All we do during Lent is meant to draw us closer to the heart of Jesus. It is a gift to do it together as a community of faith.

Peace and hope in Him,

Fr. Fred