On Ash Wednesday, many of us heard St. Paul urge the people of the Christian community in Corinth to "Be reconciled with God" (2 Cor 5:21).
The call to reconciliation not only applies to our relationship with God, but also with the community of faith, with those whom we have hurt, or have hurt us, and with ourselves. It takes effort (along with God's grace) for us to seek harmony where it has been lost due to our sins or the sinfulness of others toward us. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one important step in the process of reconciliation. Through it, we are reconciled with God and the community of believers and hopefully, ourselves. It is complete when we restore harmony in particular relationships; hopefully before and perhaps after, we have received the grace of the Sacrament.
For the rest of Lent, I will continue to offer the Sacrament starting 45 minutes before each Mass-including the Wednesday 5:00 p.m. Mass, as well as thirty minutes before the Friday Stations of the Cross. In addition, we will have our Lenten Reconciliation Service on Thursday, April 3, at 6:00 p.m. with other priests from this area offering themselves for individual reception of the Sacrament. Please look elsewhere in the future for the dates and times when the other churches in the area will have their Lenten Reconciliation Service. Come experience the joy of reconciliation and the peace and strength from the Lord that it brings.
The call to reconciliation not only applies to our relationship with God, but also with the community of faith, with those whom we have hurt, or have hurt us, and with ourselves. It takes effort (along with God's grace) for us to seek harmony where it has been lost due to our sins or the sinfulness of others toward us. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one important step in the process of reconciliation. Through it, we are reconciled with God and the community of believers and hopefully, ourselves. It is complete when we restore harmony in particular relationships; hopefully before and perhaps after, we have received the grace of the Sacrament.
For the rest of Lent, I will continue to offer the Sacrament starting 45 minutes before each Mass-including the Wednesday 5:00 p.m. Mass, as well as thirty minutes before the Friday Stations of the Cross. In addition, we will have our Lenten Reconciliation Service on Thursday, April 3, at 6:00 p.m. with other priests from this area offering themselves for individual reception of the Sacrament. Please look elsewhere in the future for the dates and times when the other churches in the area will have their Lenten Reconciliation Service. Come experience the joy of reconciliation and the peace and strength from the Lord that it brings.