From the Bishop’s Desk

Lent: Called to Be Christ’s Presence

Dear Friends in Christ,

Lent is far more than a season of giving things up, it is a time to reclaim the identity we received at baptism. In those waters, we were united with Christ’s death and resurrection and commissioned to make His presence visible in the world. Lent invites us to renew that
mission through prayer, fasting, and acts of mercy that embody God’s love.

Saint Paul writes: “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27). To be “clothed with Christ”
means that our lives reflect His compassion and justice. Lent Challenges us to ask: How am I living as Christ’s presence in my family, workplace, and community?

One way to answer that call is through the Corporal Works of Mercy, which root our faith in concrete acts of love:

• Feed the Hungry: Instead of simply abstaining from a favorite food, redirect those resources to stock a local pantry or volunteer at a soup kitchen. When we share bread with the hungry, we fulfill Jesus’ words: “I was hungry and you gave me food”
  (Matthew 25:35).
• Visit the Sick: In a world where isolation is common, a phone call, hospital visit, or
  delivering a meal can be a sacrament of presence. These small acts proclaim that
  Christ’s healing love is still active through us.
• Clothe the Naked: Organize a clothing drive or donate gently used garments to shelters. This simple gesture affirms the dignity of those who often feel forgotten.
• Shelter the Homeless: Support housing initiatives or prepare are kits for those living on the streets. Even small efforts can be signs of hope.
  

These works are not optional extras; they are expressions of baptismal grace. When we
engage in them, we do more than perform charity, we participate in Christ’s mission of
reconciliation and renewal.
Lent also calls us to look deeper. Feeding the hungry is not only about bread; it is about
advocating for systems that ensure no one goes without. Visiting the sick is not only about
comfort; it is about challenging structures that neglect the vulnerable. In this way, our
baptismal calling becomes prophetic, urging us to transform the world in love.
As we journey through Lent, let us remember: the ashes on our foreheads are not a sign of
despair but of hope – a reminder that we belong to Christ and are sent to be His presence.
Through prayer, fasting, and works of mercy, we make visible the One who is ever with us,
bringing light into every shadow.

In Christ’s Love,
+William
Pastor