Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and our Church begins her sacred season of Lent. This is a time God gives us each year to, as we hear on Wednesday, "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel." Please note our schedule of Masses below and check out this resource from Northwest Catholic about the Lenten Fast and Abstinence laws. 

The Gospel - of course - is Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life we are meant to live here and forever! He is the good news we are called to share. Human sin and self-centeredness alienate us from this life of divine love, but Christ in his mercy has provided the means to find our way back to it. I want to encourage all members of our parish community to practice the Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving through the various opportunities here at Christ Our Hope. We can encounter Lent together! 

I would like to focus on two opportunities for spiritual growth this Lent. The first is celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Besides our usual opportunities on Wednesdays at 5:30 PM and Saturdays at 8:30 AM, we will have Reconciliation Masses on March 27th at 6:30 PM and March 30th at 9:00 AM. I am also available to celebrate reconciliation after all daily and Sunday Masses in Lent and am also glad to make a personal appointment to meet as well. 

Another Lenten opportunity is our Sunday faith formation. During Lent we will be watching and reflecting on Bishop Robert Barron's series titled "Seven Deadly Sins. Seven Lively Virtues." We will gather together for this discussion from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM on Sunday, March 17. All are welcome!

Let us pray for one another in a special way this Lent! 

Spe Salvi!