The Season of Lent is a time of penance. During this season the faithful are exhorted to devote themselves in a special manner to prayer, to engage in works of piety and charity, and to deny themselves.

Each of the faithful is obliged to receive Holy Communion at least once a year.

The wonderful gift of the Lord's merciful love is offered in a special way in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Lent is a most appropriate time to receive this Sacrament.

Let's also try to do the following. Fasting of:

• Negative words and saying kind words.
• Discontent and filling with gratitude.
• Anger and fill with meekness and patience.
• Pessimism and filling with hope and optimism.
• Worries and filling oneself with trust in God.
• Complaints and filling up with the simple things in life.
• Tensions and filling with prayers.
• Bitterness and sadness and filling the heart with joy.
• Selfishness and filling with compassion for others.
• Lack of forgiveness and filling of reconciliation.
• Words and filling with silence to listen to others.

Let us ask the Lord to bless our humble efforts.
Fr. Jose Joseph SAC