Dear Salesian Family,

We begin this holy season of Lent with forty days of prayer, fasting, and alms giving. Ash Wednesday is already here, as we will celebrate it tomorrow! Time has gone by so quickly, as it seems like just yesterday we celebrated Christmas. These holy seasons keep us on our toes and help us to focus on our spiritual journey.

The Church guides us during this time to seek Jesus in prayer by taking time to read Sacred Scripture. To serve others by giving alms which may simply be to share our time and gifts God has given us, and love our neighbor in our daily lives. The Church also reminds us to practice self-control through fasting. We practice fasting and self-discipline in countless ways throughout this holy season, particularly with our Lenten tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays. Through all of this, we are called to a deep inner conversion as we turn to follow Jesus during this time of renewal.

Let us walk with Jesus this Lent and draw close to Him! As Pope Francis says, “Let us ask God to help us set out on a path of true conversion.”

God bless,

Sr. Carmen, FMA