Lent begins this year on Wednesday, February 17. Last year, we began Lent in the usual way with four Ash Wednesday liturgies and the distribution of ashes to the faithful. Receiving ashes announces the beginning of our forty days of preparation for renewing our baptismal promises on Easter Sunday. We did not anticipate that after celebrating the third Sunday of Lent, the churches would be closed, and the obligation to assist at Sunday Eucharist would be dispensed. 

Last year, the beautiful liturgies of Holy Week and Easter could only be celebrated by the faithful through livestream.  It was the most unusual Lent of my priesthood, and indeed, my life.  When we were allowed to reopen our churches with restrictions in late May for the feast of the Ascension, I was optimistic that by fall we would be back to our “normal” liturgical life and that we would have an ordinary, if not extraordinary Christmas celebration. 

Now we know the pandemic and the necessary restrictions will continue through most, if not all, of 2021.  Vaccinations have begun, and there is reason to hope that we will finally pass the worst of the pandemic.

This year, Ash Wednesday and Lent will be different. We will still offer four public liturgies on February 17 to begin the season.  Our Knights of Columbus and other volunteers will offer a carry-out-only series of Lenten fish fries for six weeks. We will be offering a weekly online discussion group based on Bishop Barron’s reflections on the Lenten gospels. Other digital offerings from Word on Fire and Dynamic Catholic will offer opportunities for your Lenten enrichment. 

Whether you come here, or  go somewhere else on Ash Wednesday, the ashes will be “distributed” differently than any of us have ever experienced. Since there can be no touching and there should be minimal spoken words, the Vatican urges the ashes be distributed in the ancient manner of dropping them on the crown of the head with no spoken words. You will be reading more about this in The Record soon. 

Even though Lent is very different this year, I hope you will join us either by livestream or in person. Even though pandemic restrictions make the experience different, the purpose of Lent remains unchanged.  Once again, you and I are invited to “change our hearts by repenting and believing in the Gospel.”  We can prepare by asking ourselves this question:  what must I change in my heart to be a more faithful advocate of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  Your answer may surprise you, but even better, it may change your life!       Fr. Gary