Lent 2021: What to Been the "Lent-Iest" Lent Ever

For The Bulletin Of ancestors and their wilderness wandering in 21 February 2021 what for them was not only a place of God’s revelation and promises, but also a place of their temptations and failures. Jesus will show Himself to be the most faithful Israelite. The opposition between human sin and divine presence, between the “angelic” and the “beastly” was starkly exposed in Jesus’ own psyche. And if we are honest and mindful, we know them in ourselves and in our own struggles to be faithful daughters and sons of our same Father.

The English artist Stanley Spencer (1891- 1959 painted a “wilderness series” about the life of Christ. In one of these paintings he depicts Jesus sitting on the desert sands with a “wild beast.” But the beast is not a roaring THE FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT lion or a skulking tiger. In His cupped hands He holds a small but deadly scorpion. From Father Robert Jesus is no wraith-like ascetic, but very Every year on the First Sunday of Lent, the much a plump “flesh of our flesh” man. gospel proclaimed is the wilderness Spencer may be suggesting that the really temptation of Jesus. Mark’s account is dangerous beasts are those small ones that hones to three short verses following can slither insidiously into our lives; the immediately and urgently after the baptism persistent sins and small infidelities that, of Jesus. The Spirit “drove” Jesus into the almost unnoticed, can inject a paralyzing wilderness, says Mark. We often describe venom into our discipleship. Alternatively, people as “driven” by ambition, lust, we might read Spencer’s painting, and desperation – but what drives Jesus is the Mark’s account, positively: as a vision of Holy Spirit. He is tossed into the physical peace and harmony in a restored creation in and spiritual space where, before He begins the hands of the New Adam on Whom His public ministry, before He proclaims angels wait in service. one word of the Good News, He must struggle with two consequences of His Jesus comes out from His wilderness baptism: His naming as Son of the Father experience strengthened for praise and pain and His solidarity with sinful humanity and mission. The arrest of John the Baptist represented by the crowds on the Jordan’s is the first storm that breaks over Mark’s banks who were called by John to a baptism gospel, but over it rises a Galilean rainbow of repentance. Now there are no crowds; of hope as Jesus proclaims His first words: Jesus is alone with the Spirit of God and the “This is the time of fulfillment. The spirit of evil, with the wild beasts and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and angels, with communion and conflict, with believe in the gospel.” On Ash Wednesday, the struggle – that will persist throughout the last words of that proclamation were an His life and death – to be the faithful Son. alternative that was pronounced as we were He is alone with the memory of His signed as baptized disciples of the tempted

One and called to Lenten mindfulness of the After Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit drives “Jesus struggle between sin and grace, success and out into the desert.” Where do you find failure, into which we too are tossed. solitude and quiet to be with God?

The desert sand is not under our feet but in our hearts. Its grit is the daily irritations and indefinable loneliness we often feel. We need these Lenten weeks of heightened awareness of the importance of uncluttered spiritual and physical space where we can come to grips with our pain, where we can discover the beauty of God and our sisters and brothers under the surface sands of our busy lives, and where we can allow our ears to be “dug out” by closer listening to the Word of God in our Sunday liturgy. We may then become much wiser about the spiritual baggage that we, as wilderness travelers, need to keep or discard in the trek About Liturgy: The Liturgy of the Hours toward Easter. The General Instruction of the Liturgy of the

Hours (GILH) serves as a great resource for anyone wishing to grow in understanding of this lesser known, and still underutilized form of prayer.

More and more parishes are using the Liturgy of the Hours, sometimes on weekday mornings when a priest is not available to preside for Eucharist, and, In the first reading, God institutes a frequently, seasonally, during Advent and covenant between Himself and the earth. Lent, perhaps on Sunday evenings, the What role do you see creation playing our mornings of the Triduum (as we do here), or relationship with God? other convenient or special times. Sometimes this is due to a diminishing The psalmist says, “Your ways, O Lord, are number of priests, and sometimes one might love and truth to those who keep Your attribute the slowly rising interest in this covenant.” How would you like to grow in form of prayer to a desire from some of the love and truth this Lenten season? faithful for more chant, more contemplative prayer, and an opportunity to pray in Today’s verse before the gospel reminds us, gathered ways outside of the eucharistic “One does not live on bread alone, but on liturgy. every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” What nourishment have you As the GILH tells us, Christians gathering to received from God’s word recently? pray at fixed times of day is an ancient practice and one that has continued, principally in monasteries and convents, to

2 the present day. Like a eucharistic liturgy, A popular website and smartphone app with this liturgy is also a “public and common the texts for each celebration can be found at prayer” and links us with Christ, is Christ’s universalis.com and many publishers offer own prayer, and is prayer by Christ’s resources with order of worship and music command. for the hymns, chants, and canticles of the various liturgies. Quoting Lumen Gentium, it continues: “Christ’s priesthood is also shared by the As Lent begins this year, consider whether whole Body of the church, so that the some form of the Liturgy of the Hours baptized are consecrated as a spiritual would be a positive way for you to pray in a temple and holy priesthood through the new way this year. rebirth of baptism and the anointing by the Holy Spirit and are empowered to offer the worship of the New Covenant, a worship that derives not from our own powers but from Christ’s merit and gift.” Later, when describing who ought to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, the list leaves no one out, mentioning those in religious life, but also being sure to include groups of lay faithful Lenten Fasting and Abstinence and the domestic church. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of universal fast and There are many ways in which to pray this abstinence. Fasting is obligatory for all who liturgy, but the core of the prayer is psalms have completed their 18th year until the and canticles (songs in Scripture outside of beginning of their 60th year. Fasting allows the psalms). The instruction envisions them a person to eat one full meal. Two smaller to be sung and if one is unfamiliar, the meals may be taken, not to equal one full psalms of this liturgy are structured meal. Abstinence (from meat) is obligatory differently than the responsorial psalms of for all who have completed their 14th year Eucharist. These are much longer, of age. If possible, the fast on Good Friday frequently whole psalms, for all to pray is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy together – often in alternation side to side, or Saturday night) as the “paschal fast” to men, women – with an antiphon only at the honor the suffering and death of the Lord beginning or end. Often, too, one Jesus and to prepare to share more fully and encounters psalms that are less familiar, if celebrate more readily his Resurrection. the ones principally known are those that Fridays in Lent are obligatory days of regularly appear at Sunday Eucharist. The abstinence (from meat) for all who have whole of the psalter is prayed through, completed their 14th year. As always, various times each day, day by day, week by anyone for whom fasting or abstinence week. There are also other familiar parts of would pose a health risk is excused. communal prayer: hymns, Scripture (or perhaps a reading from a saint’s writings or a patriarch’s homily), intercessions, and the Lord’s Prayer to name a few.

On behalf of all of us, I express our thanks to our parishioners who come faithfully every two weeks to clean the sanctuary and The word “Catholic” means “universal,” and church bathrooms. They were here last our faith cares for all our sisters and brothers weekend, February 13th to give of regardless of the parish in which they themselves in service and in love for us. worship. One should give to the Appeal Our thanks to Angela Bueno, Al Cosce, because there are certain ministries and Carole Miller, Alfred Madoshi, Reno and services that cannot be provided by a parish Thelma Benasfre, Mency Osborne, Rose but only by a diocese. With your support, Salamanca, Finian Anyanwu, and Steve the diocese recruits, educates and forms Rojek. seminarians, pays a pension and needed medical care for our retired clergy, supports a diaconate program and ethnic minorities. The diocese also supports schools and other parishes facing financial distress or an unexpected emergency. Some people may say that as long as we support our parish, we should not be concerned with the needs of other parishes, schools, recruitment, education and formation of our future clergy, and forming our youth and On behalf of all of us, I wish to express our young adults in our faith beyond our own congratulations and best wishes to Bill and th parish. Through the Bishop’s Appeal, the Carol Ardent who celebrated their 50 diocese is able to carry out these ministries Anniversary of Marriage last Sunday, th and services which is only possible through February 14 . May God continue to bless the generosity of our parishioners. you with the best of health, much happiness, and the deepening of your love for one another.

Programs and Ministries Funded • Seminarian Education & Formation Through the Bishop's Appeal • Priest Retirement & Long-term Care Diocesan pastoral ministries and services • Continuing Education Programs focus on strengthening our faith, our families, and building up our parish Support for Catholic Schools & Parishes communities by engaging people in the daily in Need life of the Church as they strive to live as Each year, the Diocese provides subsidies faithful disciples of Christ. and grants to assist with operating expenses at inner-city Catholic schools, and for • Liturgy parishes facing extraordinary and immediate • Respect Life Justice Programs financial challenges. • Vietnamese, Filipino & Latino Ministries • Ethnic Pastoral Centers • Operating Subsidies • Marriage & Family Life Ministries • Capital Expenditure Grants • Marriage Preparation Programs • Emergency Funding Support • Youth Retreat Center • Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Assisting Local Parishes Programs Every parish has its own needs and plans for • Catholic Scouting growth and new ministries to better serve • Young Adult Ministries their parishioners and the local community. • Children & Youth Ministries The Bishop’s Appeal will again return 100% • Stewardship Education of all monies collected above each individual parish’s goal for use at the parish Religious Education & Formation level. Gifts to the Bishop's Appeal help support religious education and formation programs Safe Environment Programs for thousands of youth and adults annually. Providing a safe haven for children, young adults and vulnerable adults. • Faith Formation Programs • Evangelization & Outreach Efforts The goal for our parish this year is $34,900. • RCIA (Right of Christian Initiation of As in the past, we will reach that goal with Adults) all of our registered parishioners • Religious Education Teachers’ Training participating. Please be sure to send your • Serra Catechetical Institute contribution to the parish so that we may • St. Francis de Sales School for Pastoral keep an accurate and current accounting of Ministry all who are participating. I am asking that each of us make a one-time gift in the Clergy Formation & Support amount of $75.00 to help us reach our goal. From initial formation into retirement, the I realize that some will contribute more than Diocese provides support for our priests. I am requesting, some will contribute that Additionally, continued updating and exact amount, and others will contribute renewal for priests and deacons who less, but again, what is important is to faithfully serve our people is supported by realize that with all of us participating, we your gift to the Bishop’s Appeal. will most likely not only reach the goal, but exceed it. Thank you for your continuing • Permanent Diaconate Program support and generosity to the needs of our • Office of Vocations diocesan community.

A year after 'Querida Amazonia,' some lessons for the Join Dan Schutte on a self-directed virtual Lenten retreat and make the U.S. church 12 February 2021 journey from ashes to glory. by Barbara Fraser

Includes:

• Eighteen video presentations by Dan • Accessible from Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday • Each presentation concludes with a song for

prayer Two children ride a horse along a dirt road in the • Downloadable retreat countryside near Anapu, in Brazil's northern workbook/journal Para state, where Sr. Dorothy Stang was • Retreat concludes with murdered. Expansion of the agrarian frontier in live ZOOM conversation with recent decades has led to the steady destruction of this part of the Amazon rainforest. (CNS Dan Photo/Paul Jeffrey) • Consider giving a virtual retreat to a friend or It's been a year since Pope Francis wrote loved one that he dreams of a church that fights for the rights of the poor and Indigenous peoples, a church that safeguards the ecosystems on

which those people — and all of us — I pray this retreat will be a depend, and a church that takes on the face time of hope and renewal for you. of the places where it is rooted.

That is the dream he described in Querida Amazonia, or "Beloved Amazonia," the papal exhortation published a year ago today as a follow-up to the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon Region, which

brought religious, clergy and lay people together at the Vatican in October 2019. For more information and to register, go to

NCRONLINE.org

It is also a dream for the church around the and a similarly disproportionate amount of world, reflected in ecclesial networks that other resources, like water and minerals. have emerged in the Congo Basin, Mesoamerica, and Asia and Oceania, as well That interconnection of people and as the Amazon Basin. ecosystems around the world is the wider message of Querida Amazonia, according to Unfortunately, Querida Amazonia has not Medical Mission Sr. Birgit Weiler, a found an echo in the U.S. church. Once German theologian who lives in Peru and Francis sent the possibility of ordaining who participated in the synod as an expert. married men and opening the diaconate to She told me that Francis has given the women to committees for further study, it church clear guideposts for its response. seems U.S. Catholics lost interest. First, the church must be "open to exploring But reducing the Amazon Synod to married new ways, reading the signs of the times priests and women deacons ignores the today, which call us to question and to lessons the U.S. church should learn from discern," Weiler said. That means "being a Amazonia. It is particularly appropriate to church that is able to listen — before it remember that today, which also marks 16 speaks or preaches, [it must] listen." years since the murder of Notre Dame de Namur Sr. Dorothy Stang, a missionary who In listening, the church must "allow itself to worked with small farmers in Brazil who be transformed by the people" and become were — who still are — defending their "a prophetic church … that dares to be farms and forests against land grabbers. increasingly inculturated in diverse and complex cultural contexts and … to live and to cultivate intercultural relationships," she added.

At the synod, Indigenous people asked the church to help them defend their territories against efforts to extract minerals, timber and other goods of creation from their forests and rivers without their consent. That is a message for the church in the U.S., Canada, Australia and other countries, as well as the Amazon Basin, Weiler told me. Medical Mission Sr. Birgit Weiler speaks at a news conference during the Amazon synod. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) This week, NCR environment correspondent Brian Roewe describes how people of faith The pillaging of forests and the are standing with Indigenous peoples displacement of original and tribal peoples to protest a controversial pipeline in from their lands in Latin America, Asia and Minnesota. And a University of Notre Dame Africa to make room for cattle ranches and Law School professor has filed an amicus oil palm plantations is a direct consequence brief in U.S. District Court, arguing that Oak of consumer demand in wealthy countries — Flat in Arizona, a site sacred to Indigenous including the U.S., where 5% of the world's people, should be protected on religious people consume 24% of the world's energy liberty grounds.

There is much to be learned from religious have added their support to a Indigenous peoples and their relationship statement signed by bishops supporting with the earth, Weiler said, about not seeing LGBTQ youth. the natural world as a source of commodities, but instead "entering into a In January, "God Is on Your Side: A relationship in which creation can speak to Statement from Catholic Bishops on me and I place myself within creation, Protecting LGBT Youth" was released on seeing see it as a gift from God, entrusted to the website of the Tyler Clementi me." Foundation, a group that fights anti-LGBTQ bullying in schools and faith communities. There are also lessons to be learned from the Ten bishops, an archbishop and a cardinal process that led to the Amazon synod, which have signed the statement as of Feb. 12. drew on reflections from hundreds of listening sessions and some 65 regional The staff at the schools sponsored by assemblies throughout the nine Amazonian the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, Kentucky, countries. A similar series of gatherings — wanted to start an outreach program for though virtual, this time — will lead up to LGBTQ students at the high school and the next general assembly of bishops of asked the sisters if they had a statement in Latin America and the Caribbean, to be held support. in November. "While we had general statements in support That is a step toward greater inclusiveness of all life, we did not have a specific and participation that can inspire the church statement," Ursuline Sr. Jean Anne Zappa, in the U.S. and other parts of the world, president of the community, wrote in a Weiler said. The question, she added, is statement to Global Sisters Report. "We "how do we grow as a church that is thought it was important to help those increasingly synodal and less and less students and wanted to support the staff clerical – a church that is always learning?" pastorally."

The congregation's communications Women religious director, Kathy Williams, was aware of the "God Is on Your Side" effort, so the sisters sign on to bishops' crafted a statement in support.

"We respect the intrinsic dignity of all statement human life, including the lives of LGBT youth, who face many challenges, including supporting bullying, harassment and violence, as well as being at higher risk for suicide," the LGBTQ youth Ursulines' statement reads. "As followers of 12 February 2021 Christ, we are called to welcome and defend by Dan Stockman those on the margins, especially those whom society rejects. ... LGBT youth are children Social Justice of God, created by God and loved by God. We stand in solidarity with them." Six women religious communities and a federation of congregations of women

The Benedictine Sisters of Chicago; The Tyler Clementi Foundation statement the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambéry; says Christians have a duty to stand up for the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, LGBTQ youth. Kentucky; the Sisters of Loretto/Loretto Community; the Sisters of Mercy of the "As we see in the Gospels, Jesus Christ Americas; and the U.S. Federation of the taught love, mercy and welcome for all Sisters of St. Joseph have joined the people, especially for those who felt Ursuline Sisters in signing the Tyler persecuted or marginalized in any way; and Clementi Foundation's statement as of the Catechism of the Catholic Feb. 12. The Edmund Rice Christian Church teaches that LGBT people are to be Brothers North America province leadership treated with 'respect, compassion and team, the Jesuit Schools Network and sensitivity,' " the statement says. "All people the Paulist Fathers have also signed on. of goodwill should help, support, and defend LGBT youth; who attempt suicide at much "Our leadership team has been both amazed higher rates than their straight counterparts; and thankful for the outpouring of gratitude who are often homeless because of families from so many, and that several other who reject them; who are rejected, bullied religious communities have signed on and and harassed; and who are the target of joined us," Zappa wrote. violent acts at alarming rates."

The Catholic leaders who have signed the The statement also says its signatories "God Is on Your Side" statement are: "oppose any form of violence, bullying or harassment directed" at LGBT people. • Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey; On Jan. 22, the U.S. Conference of Catholic • Archbishop John Wester of Santa Fe, New Bishops issued a statement signed by five Mexico; different bishops, expressing "concerns" • Bishop Steven Biegler of Cheyenne, over President Joe Biden's decision to Wyoming; extend existing federal protections against • Auxiliary Bishop John Dolan of San Diego; sex discrimination to include LGBTQ • Retired Auxiliary Bishop Thomas people. The five bishops wrote that Gumbleton of Detroit; prohibiting discrimination threatens the • Bishop Joseph Kopacz of Jackson, religious liberty of those who believe Mississippi; differently because it could lead to • Retired Auxiliary Bishop Denis Madden of "mandates that, for example, erode health Baltimore; care conscience rights or needed and time- • Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego; honored sex-specific spaces and activities." • Retired Bishop Ricardo Ramirez of Las The signatories of the Tyler Clementi Cruces, New Mexico; Foundation statement, however, expressed • Bishop John Stowe of Lexington, Kentucky; no such fear. • Bishop Anthony Taylor of Little Rock, Arkansas; "Most of all, know that God created you, • Bishop Edward Weisenburger of Tucson, God loves you and God is on your side," the Arizona. statement says.

Less than three months after the formation of a controversial working group to deal with President Joe Biden, the nation's Catholic bishops have disbanded the group, which produced a public rupture among the U.S. hierarchy in its approach toward the nation's second Catholic president.

Dan Stockman According to two bishops familiar with the Dan Stockman is national correspondent for process, the work of the group is now Global Sisters Report. His email address complete and the group's proposal to is [email protected]. Follow produce a document on the question of him on Twitter or on Facebook. Communion will be addressed by the U.S. bishops' Committee on Doctrine.

Bishops' working Chieko Noguchi, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, group on Biden declined to comment. disbanded; doctrine The group, originally announced on Nov. 17, met virtually on two occasions. As committee to NCR first reported last month, its 10-person committee did not include Biden's local bishops in Washington, D.C., or his home address Communion state of Delaware. 15 February 2021

by Christopher White The output of the group was twofold: first, a

contentious Inauguration Day statement by bishops' conference president Archbishop José Gomez that enumerated the areas in which Biden's political positions did not match Catholic doctrine, specifically on abortion and LGBTQ issues. The statement was a stark contrast to Pope Francis' message to Biden the same day.

Secondly, the group proposed a document outlining church teaching on the Eucharist, "including the fact that our relationship with Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez, president Christ is not strictly a private affair." That of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in Rome in January 2020 (CNS/Paul Haring); U.S. proposal will now be addressed by the President Joe Biden at the White House in doctrine committee, currently chaired by Washington Feb. 10, 2021 (CNS/Reuters/Carlos Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Barria) Bend, Indiana.

Rhoades' three-year term will expire in By contrast, other bishops have warned November 2021 and he will be succeeded by against such a position. Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas. Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington has In recent months, several Catholic bishops said he will not refuse Biden Communion, have suggested that Biden be denied saying, "I don't want to go to the table with a Communion due to his support for legal gun on the table first," and that he wanted to abortion. dialogue with the new president.

Archbishop Joseph Naumann, chairman of In a newly aired interview with NBC News, the U.S. bishops' Committee on Pro-life Gregory characterized Gomez's Inauguration Activities and a member of the now Day statement as "ill-timed." While he said disbanded working group, used his there would be times when he and Biden homily at the annual National Prayer Vigil disagreed, he hoped their relationship would for Life to make such a case. be marked by dialogue.

"Sadly, President Biden is the perfect During a panel earlier this month hosted by example of the religiously and ethically Georgetown University's Initiative on incoherent straddle: claiming to believe that Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, human life begins at conception and Bishop Robert McElroy of San personally opposing abortion, while doing Diego cautioned against the "weaponization everything within his power to promote and of Eucharist." institutionalize abortion not only in the USA but also around the world," said Naumann, "I do not see how depriving the president or who is archbishop of Kansas City, Kansas. other political leaders of Eucharist based on their public policy stance can be interpreted He then went on to discuss Communion: "In in our society as anything other than the effect, our Amen when receiving Our Lord weaponization of Eucharist and an effort not is an affirmation that we believe and profess to convince people by argument and by all that the Holy Catholic Church believes, dialogue and by reason, but, rather, to teaches and proclaims to be revealed by pummel them into submission on the issue," God," Naumann said. "We do not want a McElroy said. non-Catholic Christian to profess something that they do not believe. Similarly, integrity Following the U.S. bishops' Inauguration requires a Catholic not receive the Eucharist Day statement, Chicago Cardinal Blase while acting in a manner incoherent with Cupich, one of the pope's principal fundamental Catholic teaching." collaborators in the U.S. church, called the statement "ill-considered" and said it San Francisco's Archbishop Salvatore represented "internal institutional failures" Cordileone, another member of the working that "must be addressed." While some group, has also recently argued that denial of Catholic commentators predicted that Communion makes "sense to a lot of people. Cupich breaking ranks with the leadership of We need to reclaim this sense of what it the U.S. bishops' conference would be means to receive [Communion]." viewed poorly in Rome, on Jan. 30, Francis held a public audience with Cupich in

Rome, one widely viewed as a sign that the VATICAN CITY — The Gospel story of pope supported Cupich's approach. Jesus healing the leper illustrates how nothing will stop God from tenderly and Biden, a regular Massgoer, has attended compassionately drawing close to people church regularly since his inauguration. who want to be healed and saved, Pope Francis said.

"Each one of us can experience wounds, failure, suffering, selfishness that make us close ourselves off from God and others," the pope said. "Sin closes us in on ourselves because of shame, because of humiliation, but God wants to open our heart."

Christopher White "Jesus announces to us that God is not an Christopher White is NCR national idea or an abstract doctrine, but God is the correspondent. His email address one who 'contaminates' himself with our is [email protected]. Follow him on human woundedness and is not afraid to Twitter: @CWWhite212. come into contact with our wounds," the pope said Feb. 14, commenting on the day's Gospel reading before praying the Angelus Pope: God wants to with visitors in St. Peter's Square. open hearts, forgive, On a brilliantly sunny, but frigid day, Francis asked people in the square to give a heal round of applause to priests who model 15 February 2021 God's closeness, tenderness and compassion by Cindy Wooden, Catholic News in the way they administer the sacrament of Service reconciliation.

Vatican Such priests, he said, are able to draw people back to God — "people who feel that they are nothing, who feel they are laid low because of their sins — with tenderness, with compassion, good confessors who do not have a whip in their hands, but just welcome, listen and say that God is good, and that God always forgives, that God does not get tired of forgiving."

In fact, the pope said, the story in Mark's Gospel (Mk 1:40-45) of Jesus healing the Pope Francis greets the crowd as he leads the leper depicts both Jesus and the man with Angelus from the window of his studio Hansen's disease breaking the law. overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Feb. 14, 2021. (CNS/Vatican Media)

"Lepers were considered impure and, Colombia, he said, is "welcoming, according to the prescriptions of the law, protecting and integrating" the Venezuelan they had to remain outside of inhabited migrants. "It is not a super wealthy, centers," the pope said. "They were developed country that is doing this — no, excluded from every human, social and this is being done by a country that has religious relationship" and were banned many problems in development, poverty and from the synagogue. peace," he said. Even so, "they have had the courage to look at those migrants and to But, he said, Jesus allows the man to create this status." approach and "is moved even to the point of extending his hand and touching him. This was unthinkable at that time."

"This is how he fulfills the good news he proclaims: God draws near to our lives, he is moved to compassion because of the fate of wounded humanity and comes to break down every barrier that prevents us from being in relationship with him, with others and with ourselves," the pope said.

Jesus did not stop at saying something to the Environment and Art Committee man, but he touched him, the pope noted. There are many things that happen in the "To touch with love means to establish a parish that are unseen by the majority of relationship, to enter into communion, to parishioners. One of those aspects is the become involved in the life of another work of our Art & Environment Committee person even to the point of sharing their that creates beautiful and meaningful wounds." environments for the various liturgical seasons. Such is the case with our Lenten "With that gesture," he said, "Jesus reveals environment. On behalf of all of us, I wish that God, who is not indifferent, does not to thank Tony and Claudia Gumina, Tom keep himself at a 'safe distance.' Rather, he and Stevie Catchings, Leo and Minnie draws near out of compassion and touches Rivera, Shelli Daviess, Pablo Villegas, our life to heal it with tenderness. It is God's Rich Confetti, Don Benson, and Tony style: nearness, compassion and tenderness." Onate for their work, dedication, and commitment in creating this year’s Lenten After reciting the Angelus prayer, Francis environment. Photographs have been posted noted it was Valentine's Day and offered his on our website and you will also experience prayers and blessings for couples in love, it when you tune in to our YourTube especially engaged couples. channel to be a part of our regular celebration of Eucharist. I hope you will He also used the occasion to publicly praise find it meaningful and supportive of your the government of Colombia for granting prayer during our Lenten Journey. temporary protection status to Venezuelan migrants who have fled the chaos and extreme poverty in their country.

Beginning on Ash Wednesday, EarthBeat Lenten reflections will publish a selection of the series, titled "Reflections on the Care of Creation," on focus on climate Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent. change as an urgent "It's a huge moral problem that most people are not really aware of or concerned about," moral issue Farrell says of climate change. "A lot of 16 February 2021 people are going about their life. They've by Brian Roewe got enough problems; they don't want to hear more. But they don't realize how close Spirituality we are to what's called the existential crisis — and not just [for] plants and animals, but humans, as well."

In San Diego, the retired priest leads a team of fellow volunteers to promote Pope Francis' encyclical "Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home" and to educate about the environmental responsibility required of all Catholics. His team members have experience in law, engineering, environmental science and elementary education, and include people who have worked with the U.S. Navy and Catholic Relief Services.

Fr. Emmet Farrell carries a banner for the Diocese of San Diego's creation care team network during a climate march in March 2017. (Provided photo)

This Lent, Fr. Emmet Farrell wants you to think about climate change.

Farrell, director of creation care ministry for the Diocese of San Diego, developed a series of daily reflections for the 40-day Fr. Emmet Farrell, director of creation care liturgical season to help Catholics better ministry for the Diocese of San Diego (Provided understand what he sees as one of the most photo) pressing moral issues facing the world. The ministry team has focused much of its In them, he draws connections between work on helping to form parish creation care human activities and their impacts on the teams. The members have also led planet, and provides suggestions for actions workshops, in English and Spanish, for that individuals and faith groups can take. parishes, and during the coronavirus

14 pandemic they have hosted numerous webinars.

Farrell, who has held his position for four years, also has worked with Bishop Robert McElroy on a diocese-wide Laudato Si' action plan. That plan is similar to ones commissioned by Cardinal Wilton Gregory in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., and developed by the Archdiocese of Atlanta when he was archbishop there.

Originally from Iowa, Farrell arrived in San Fr. Emmet Farrell, center, poses with members Diego after working in several Hispanic of St. Michael Catholic Church, in San Diego. communities across the country. Before that, As the director of creation care ministry, Farrell he spent 16 years in Peru as a missionary. promotes Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si' That time in Latin America led him to view within parishes in the Diocese of San Diego, and the world "from the bottom up," he told helps form creation care teams. (Provided photo) EarthBeat. "You see kind of through the eyes of the poor." The reflections, Farrell added, are a reminder that God entrusted us with Although climate change and environmental stewardship of creation. He pointed to the destruction were not on his radar at the time, call in Genesis for humans to "till and he now sees how gold mining and steel mills protect" the Earth, but "as [Jesuit Fr.] James there polluted the air and water and harmed Martin said, we're doing a great job of the health and lives of the people among tilling, not so good a job of protecting." whom he ministered. For each of his Lenten climate reflections, Climate change is a timely topic for Lent, Farrell adopts the see-judge-act approach by the priest said, "because it's so prevalent. It pairing scientific studies and reports about surrounds us; we're not aware of it. And it is climate change with related theological very moral and it's very spiritual. People teachings, from Laudato Si', Scripture and think, 'Oh it's just politics.' And I say it's other writings from the Catholic and other political like everything's political." faith traditions.

The issues he explores include oil drilling in the Arctic and fracking; how climate change is altering our world in places like Greenland, the Amazon and San Diego; and what those impacts mean for species, city planning and how we grow our food. Each reflection ends with several recommendations of actions that readers can take.

"Doing these reflections, I would hope would bring home to [readers] in a strong

way that it is our moral responsibility to do Farrell compares that with a person who something," he said. "As Francis says, it's an receives a gift, looks at it and throws it in essential part of our faith." the trash while the giver is watching.

Although Lent is an appropriate time for "How does that make that person feel? Well, people to develop a deeper awareness of the that's what we're doing with creation, with urgency of the climate crisis, the San Diego what God has given us as a gift," he said. priest hopes people find the reflections "We're trashing it, we're polluting it, we're useful throughout the year. wasting it. And along with it, we're destroying ourselves health-wise" because The climate emergency affects "every living of toxic substances in food, water and the thing on the planet, not just humans," he air. said. "One aspect of Laudato Si' that Francis is very keen about, and it's kind of new for In Laudato Si', Francis speaks of sins against us Catholics, is that climate change isn't creation, echoing words of Patriarch affecting just human life, and respect for Bartholomew. Farrell said he hopes the life, the pro-life issue, is not just human life reflection series will help readers understand — it's all life. And that means plants, that that "we have a real big environmental means animals. And we're losing them." problem and … as a church, as a Christian, as a believer, this is sinful."

"We're wasteful and we're killing others, the poor," he said. "We can't just talk about the economy here; we have to remember the poor."

The coronavirus pandemic is a reminder that "we're one human family," Farrell said. "It's one of the phrases from Laudato Si' that rings most in my mind — that we're one family and we live in one house."

Children often grasp that idea more quickly than adults, he added. Children explore a trail at Cunningham Falls State Park June 17, 2020, in Thurmont, "I said that to a bunch of grade-school kids Maryland. (CNS/Tyler Orsburn) one time," the priest said. "They looked at me and said, 'One house? Oh, you mean the Estimates of how many species are lost each planet?' Francis is driving home that idea. If year vary widely, but scientists say we really realized that, it would change our that more species are becoming way of acting. And Francis says we won't extinct because of human activities and change our way of acting unless we change climate change than would disappear our way of thinking." naturally in the same amount of time. To pastors who avoid talking about climate change, saying it's a political issue, "I say,

16 no, no, no. This is stewardship for the Earth. This is probably as moral an issue that we've What the truth of a ever dealt with," Farrell said. tree taught me "I don't think I've ever had one person say to me in confession, 'I sinned against the environment,' " he added. "One kid said it during this once, and I was shocked. Then he said, 'I kicked my dog.' But I don't think anybody is pandemic aware … that as a Christian, as a believer, 16 February 2021 [we] have a moral responsibility — and not by Sue Paweski just to think about it, but do something."

That, he said, is why each reflection ends with recommended actions. Some of those actions are aimed at helping readers learn more about the issues, but others suggest steps for helping to bring about change in the community or in government policies. "We have to get that pressure built up," Farrell said. "If people are conscious, people are going to start speaking and writing and talking and pushing their legislatures to do something. I'm just trying to build up that consciousness so that people will do that."

The tree survives because it has adapted to the intruder — the cables. (Sue Paweski)

Every morning, I wake thanking God for another day. Then, seconds later, I remember COVID-19, the social divisions in the country, racism, people without jobs, children going to bed hungry, the seething Brian Roewe violence in our world, climate change that is Brian Roewe is NCR environment wreaking havoc globally. I pray and try to correspondent. His email address focus on my ministry and the good work of is [email protected]. Follow him on dedicated women and men, of all races and Twitter at @brianroewe. faiths who work for others. And I am humbled.

During this strange time of the coronavirus, lives have been transformed in ways few imagined would ever happen in their lifetime. I have friends who have put their energies into gardening and raising

17 vegetables. Some are working at home and around the cables! It prospered. Its leaves juggling their children's at-home schooling. cover the branches.

The small gatherings at church are carefully monitored. There is no singing, yet we speak a masked, "Hello! How are you!" and are grateful to be in church again. Grocery store trips are quick and focused. I don't linger and wonder if I should purchase an item. I have a list and I know where to find what I need. No sauntering about.

In March, when we were first alerted to wear masks and distance, I drove around to family and friends' houses with "drive-by" waving. It was fun. Now it's not.

There is no thought of life returning to pre- pandemic times in a year or so. There is an awareness of the fragility of life. This awareness is making an indelible mark on our souls. I wonder how our lives will Just as my beautiful tree had to accommodate continue to be changed by the pandemic. the cables to survive and thrive, so we must transform ourselves to live fully. (Sue Paweski)

Weather permitting, I take a walk around my The tree survives because it has adapted to neighborhood every day. I miss going to the the intruder — the cables. The tree is not gym and I need the exercise, and the walk completely altered; it has accommodated an grounds me. A walk around the uninvited situation. And, yes, that tree spoke neighborhood is familiar and gives me a to my heart. People can make changes and sense of belonging. One day, I was sad and alter aspects of their lives because Creation depressed because I missed seeing my is meant to survive if it is able to adapt to family. I was saying a rosary to help calm change. me.

The first step is acknowledging the need for As I crossed the street, I looked up and saw change. When we resist the signs of the a tree that I had passed many times before, times, we leave ourselves vulnerable to the yet I hadn't looked up at its unusual shape. It changes that will inevitably take place. We was the shape of the tree that revitalized my are left coping with situations rather than hope in these very difficult times. acknowledging the inevitable and working

to avoid the dire consequences. Take a good look at it. The uninvited saws of the electric company had cut off branches The climate has changed. Witness the fires, so that the electrical cables could make their the hurricanes, the drastic changes in the way through the tree. Cables interfered with seasonal temperatures — and some still the branches of the tree; yet that tree grew deny and even exacerbate the world calamity! Reflect on the

U.S. leaving the Paris Climate tree attests to the truth of survival and Agreement and the deliberate burning of the transformation. The tree reveals the power Amazon forests, the "lungs" of Earth. We to adapt to new realities. Our personal are called to care for Creation because we transformations can alter our world to grow are part of Creation. When we ignore the and thrive in a new reality. crisis of climate change and the pandemic, we jeopardize our existence.

We can change the trajectory of the pandemic and the change in climate by acknowledging the situation and then taking the steps needed to work through the problems.

Jesus' parable of the new wineskins calls us Sue Paweski has been a Sister of Providence to rethink who we are in this different world. of St. Mary of the Woods for 22 years. For We are challenged to be "new" as a result of 10 years, she has ministered in the the pandemic, and in the face of the advancement office of her congregation. dramatic and sobering realities of climate Currently, she is co-director of her change. We are called to look at our lives community's associate program. through a different lens. Our sheltering at home gives us the opportunity to reflect. How can we adapt to where we are now? Let's go back to Jesus' message is to live in our world imbued with sharing love, mercy and justice basics for Lent to everyone. How are we living this now? Will we insist on putting new wine into old during this wineskins that cannot accommodate the new wine? Our lives have been altered, changed pandemic year and turned around as a result of the 17 February 2021 pandemic and climate change. Our new by Daniel P. Horan reality cannot fit into our former modes of living. Spirituality

Just as my beautiful tree had to For many people, Lent is associated with accommodate the cables to survive and certain kinds of sacrifice: giving up thrive, so we must transform ourselves to something one enjoys for the season, live fully. We have the ability, because of abstaining from meat on Fridays and fasting the grace of God, to bring a fresh on prescribed dates. These forms of perspective to our world. voluntary self-denial have served the Christian faithful well over the centuries as a Let us use this time of isolating to open set of practices that help take us out of our ourselves to accepting the transformation daily routines and ordinary life in order to that is taking place. We will need to grow in renew ourselves in living the Gospel. different ways to maintain our integrity. My

But what does it mean to approach the penance," but that the focus ought to be penitential season of Lent in a time of global "conversion in relation to oneself, to God, pandemic in which nearly everybody has and to others." experienced involuntary self-denial ranging from the prohibition of travel and leisure Conversion is supposed to be the point, not activities to imposed distance from loved the practices themselves. Which suggests to ones and family members, including the me that one key way we can approach the tragedy of not being with loved ones in season of Lent during the pandemic is to person as they left this world at the end of return to the basics, to turn away from the life? minutiae of religious trappings and personal preferences and turn toward Christ and the For some, the idea of imposing further Gospel. burdens on themselves or others under the guise of "spiritual renewal" seems cruel or Sadly, for some people, scrupulous perhaps an invitation to masochism at this obsessions about whether or not one is moment in history. And I am deeply "fasting correctly" or "sacrificing sympathetic to that view. This is all the sufficiently" can distract from the point of more true when one views practices of the voluntary disciplines in the first place. asceticism as simply ends in themselves and Rather than focusing on turning toward not means toward something greater — Christ and living out our baptismal vocation when one looks at the traditional Lenten through loving words and deeds, such well- triad of fasting, prayer and almsgiving as a intentioned fastidiousness can actually lead form of "punishment" rather than an to spiritually destructive thinking and opportunity to redirect one's attention, behaviors, which Pope Francis has described energies and priorities from the quotidian to as "a self-centered and elitist complacency, the spiritually transformational. bereft of true love."

However, I think this particular Lent is a In this case, approaching Lenten practices time in which spiritual transformation, without the proper discernment for the ongoing conversion, and personal and challenging and exceptional moment in communal renewal is needed more than which we find ourselves today can lead to ever. It just might mean that we don't go to the counterintuitive result of making us less our classical Lenten storage closet on Ash Christian, less Christ-like. I am reminded of Wednesday to dust off our usual penitential Jesus's admonishment of religious zealots practices. who criticized him and his followers for not obsessively observing every minute detail of There's a strikingly simple and profound line the religious law: "The Sabbath was made in the catechism section on "The Many for humankind, and not humankind for the Forms of Penance in Christian Life." Sabbath" (Mark 2:27). Paragraph 1434 begins: "The interior penance of the Christian can be expressed in Likewise, we should remember that the many and various ways" (emphasis added). Lenten practices we are typically The passage then recounts how Scripture accustomed to adopting each year were and ancient church theologians regularly created for humankind, not humankind for pointed to fasting, praying and almsgiving these practices. as exemplary forms of such "interior

With this in mind, I want to suggest that many folks interpret almsgiving a little too Christians take a very different tack this literally as exclusively having to do only year, one that requires of all of us patience, with financial donations. That is certainly thoughtfulness and discernment. I believe part of what almsgiving is all about, and that a good way to spend Lent in the financial or other material resources are pandemic is by focusing on the basic desperately needed by so many this year. practices of our Christian faith. But we also have to recognize that many people who would like to share their One Lenten practice that fits the bill is to resources with others are themselves deepen one's engagement with Scripture. suffering under the pressures of the Catholics have a bad reputation among the pandemic-affected economy. Christian communities of not knowing the Bible as well as our other baptized sisters Understood more capaciously, almsgiving is and brothers do. Why not set aside some about care of our neighbors, especially those time each day during Lent to read a portion who are most struggling. In a time of great of the Bible, perhaps start with one of the uncertainty, anxiety, isolation and fear, the Gospels and read, reflect and pray with the spirit of almsgiving — that is, giving money passage? If we allow ourselves to be open to or time or attention not only out of our the Holy Spirit's inspiration, sayings and abundance but also out of our primary narratives we thought we understood could resources — is needed more than ever. inform or challenge us in new and timely ways. Any of our Lenten practices that do not support or coincide with care for those Another key element of the Lenten season is among us is of little or no spiritual value. a focus on prayer. At a time when it may be For as the New Testament reminds us, unsafe or impractical to worship together on "Those who say, 'I love God,' and hate their Sundays or during the week as we might brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who have previously, other forms of prayer offer do not love a brother or sister whom they us an opportunity to renew our relationship have seen, cannot love God whom they have with God. Prayer, after all, is fundamentally not seen" (1 John 4:20). just communication with God. And as St. Augustine said, God is the one who is Most importantly, this Lent is, more than closer to us than we are to ourselves, which ever, about taking each day one at a time. As means every moment of every day becomes Francis reminds us in his 2018 apostolic an opportunity for prayer. exhortation, "Rejoice and Be Glad," our pursuit of Christian holiness requires that we Maybe this Lent is the perfect time to embrace perseverance, patience and practice paying attention to God's presence humility. God understands the challenges we in our lives and focusing on how we might face this Lent, and invites us to experience better communicate with God, which is to divine love and mercy as God accompanies say striving to pray better. us in our struggles. God is patient with us; ought we not be more patient with others Perhaps the third Lenten practice in the and ourselves? traditional penitential triad — almsgiving — is where we might focus our attention with When so many people have been forced to more enthusiasm this year. It seems that give up so much already, not by choice but

21 by necessity or tragedy, it is unreasonable and perhaps even unjust to expect of others A Climate- or ourselves further self-denial. The prophet Hosea reminds us of what God actually Conscious Lent: expects of us: "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings" (Hosea 6:6). Hothouse Earth 17 February 2021

by Fr. Emmet Farrell

Spirituality

Daniel P. Horan Franciscan Fr. Daniel P. Horan is the Duns Scotus Chair of Spirituality at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where he teaches systematic theology and spirituality. Visit his Facebook page to learn more about livestream discussions held after his columns are posted. Firefighters battle a wind-driven wildfire in Canyon Country near Los Angeles in October 2019. (CNS photo/Gene Blevins, Reuters)

See: Our world is aflame. Last year, more than 58,250 wildfires in the U.S., 40% of them in California, burned an area larger than Maryland and Delaware combined. Since 2000, an average of more than 70,000 fires a year have charred an average of 7.1 million acres annually — an area larger than Massachusetts.

Wildfires near Athens, Greece, that began during a heat wave in mid-2018 had killed more than 100 people by the following March. In recent years, fires have burned across landscapes in Australia, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, the Amazon and Congo basins, and the Arctic. Scientists say those fires are aggravated by rising global

22 temperatures, which have shattered records Act: around the globe. • If your diocese has a diocesan climate action plan, read it and decide what steps you will Fires may get the most media attention, but take with your family or faith group to help they are not the only sign that our planet is put it into practice. If your diocese does not becoming a hothouse. Deadly heat have one, read another plan, like the waves have also become more common. In Archdiocese of Atlanta's "Laudato Si' Japan, a month-long heat wave in mid- Action Plan," and contact your diocesan 2018 claimed more than 1,000 lives. creation care or social justice office to Extreme heat is most likely to affect elderly encourage them to develop a similar plan. people and those living in poverty, who cannot afford air conditioning, as well as • Read and reflect on "A Christian Prayer in those living in countries where air Union with Creation," found at the end of conditioning is not common. Pope Francis' encyclical "Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home." As parts of the world become unbearably warm in the coming decades, or as water • With your family or faith group, read the sources in those places dry up, experts new ecumenical and say people are likely to migrate toward interreligious guidebook on care for our places where average annual temperatures common home and choose an action to carry are in the 50s to 60s Fahrenheit. That will out during Lent. create new pressures on cities in those places and could mean turning areas that are now permafrost into farmland.

Judge: Climate change is a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods (Laudato Si', 25). Fr. Emmet Farrell

Fr. Emmet Farrell is director of creation care There is but one creator. As travelers on this ministry for the Diocese of San Diego. globe together, we are dependent upon Earth for our sustenance. … We must understand what it means to respect all that God has created and to be our neighbor's keepers. … Further, as human beings we are surrounded by and live in an environment we call air. It is in us as well as around us. When it is poisoned and polluted (Isaiah 24:5-6), all creation is harmed (American Baptist Churches USA, Resolution on Global Warming, 1991).

(at least that was my Chicago Catholic Lent not a time of memory).

'giving up,' but of As I think about this year, "giving up" is certainly not needed. We have experienced the loss of so much throughout the COVID- 'taking' time to be 19 pandemic. Most things we have not chosen to give up: Rather, they were taken with God from us. Seeing parents, family, friends, the 17 February 2021 birth of new grandchildren; special by Nancy Sylvester celebrations for birthdays, graduations, anniversaries canceled; high school and Spirituality college sports truncated; and classroom education replaced by online teaching. Jobs lost; housing evictions; reduced income; getting sick with COVID-19 and dying of COVID-19. And the list can go on.

We have changed. This year has both taken a toll on us and — hopefully — given us new insights into what is important, what can be let go and what is essential. However, as we face more months of potential mask wearing and physical distancing, emotions still seethe in us, as do questions and wonderings about the future. (GSR photo/Teresa Malcolm)

There is a wisdom in the liturgical cycle. Instead of giving up anything else, perhaps The yearly remembering of the life of Jesus what is needed is taking more time to spend of Nazareth accompanies our own evolving with God this Lent. There are many ways to self. It invites us to engage the scriptural do this, but one that might be illuminating is story anew with the insights, concerns and to engage with the story of Jesus' life as deepening awareness of who we are and expressed in one of the Gospels. who we are becoming. It assures us that life- death-new life continues throughout our life It is not simply to read the daily readings, and our time. but rather to choose one Gospel and enter into a dialogue with it, after having When I was growing up, Lent was a special experienced a full year of the effects of the time to stop and spend more time with God. pandemic. It was 40 days bracketed in the middle of the 365 days of our regular life. Many of us The story line is similar to ours. Jesus lived might only remember Lent as the time when in a tumultuous time. There were divisions you "gave up" things — candy, favorite TV within the political and religious groups. shows, movies. You couldn't wait for People were sick and in need of healing. Sunday. For some reason, Sunday freed you Certain types of people were considered of these sacrifices and you could indulge yourself eating candy all day if you wanted 24 outcasts. There were entitled groups who the official canon. Most likely, none of them flaunted privileges that oppressed others. were written by an eyewitness, as they were compiled from a long oral and written Jesus entered his public time in ministry by transmission years after Jesus' death. They being tempted. Power, wealth and self- each tell the story of Jesus' life with a sufficiency were offered to him and he different emphasis and — as many scholars struggled to respond. He experienced believe — with a focus for a different group rejection and ridicule. He was a frontline of potential believers of the time. Any one worker who tirelessly healed the suffering of of them can make a good dialogue partner. those he encountered. He was tortured, accused of a crime he did not commit and he Determine how much time you can give and suffered the death penalty of the time — when in the day or week you might engage crucifixion. He even cried out in in the dialogue. desperation, seeking the God who he felt Everyone's circumstances are unique but it abandoned him. is wise to know approximately the length of time you want to commit to and a basic time At the end of his life, Jesus had nothing to of day when you might be able to do it. show for it. Most of his followers abandoned or denied him, or hid lest they be seen as Find a space where you can feel free to associates of his. Only the women stayed engage in this process. and were among the first to encounter the You might find yourself talking out loud, mystery of resurrected life. expressing emotion, being argumentative or conveying a loving response. You don't Living through this year of the pandemic want to feel that you have to censor your there are many emotions within us, many responses. questions, many worries, many expectations. Dialoguing with one of the Gospels allows Begin. us to express every emotion in ways that can Prepare as you would for a contemplative heal, awaken and transform. sitting, and start by setting the intention to be open to the workings of Divine Mystery Suggested process: within you. You may want to simply sit for a Find a New Testament translation that you couple of minutes. Then open the Gospel like and can write in. you have chosen and begin to converse with When you enter the dialogue, it is easier if the text. you can write your responses close to the text that evoked them. If it is a family Bible Remember you are bringing who you are or a book that you don't want to write in, and all that is stirring within you to this you can also find the Gospel you choose encounter. Listen to the words and listen to online where you can write your responses what is happening within. Then there is the or print the copy and use that for the space between the written text and your process. reaction. Listen to that as well.

Choose one of the four Gospels. As you are moved, write down your part of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are the the dialogue. For example, as you read one names given to the anonymous authors of of the healing miracles, you might feel such the Gospels that were selected to be part of grief — because no one healed your loved

one — that tears well up and you cry Differences to Make a Difference." For out, How could you? ... Why didn't you heal information, go to www.iccdinstitute.org. my wife? ... Why is this happening? Write that down and then simply listen to the space between. When appropriate, continue the Catholic women dialogue. pursue pro-life End. When the time has ended, sit quietly for a few minutes. See what is staying with you. values at the border 18 February 2021 If you want to, write that down as well. It by Pauline Hovey might serve as the beginning of the next conversation.

Throughout such a process, you are trusting the Spirit within you. We are all quite raw after these months and hope to move forward but are not quite sure how. The poet Rumi writes, "What you seek is seeking you." And in the Gospel of Matthew, it is written, "Knock and the door will be opened for you."

Migrants from Central America seeking asylum in the United States turn themselves in after crossing into El Paso, Texas, Jan. 22. (CNS/Reuters/Jose Luis Gonzalez)

While most young adults look to the Nancy Sylvester entertainment industry for models to Nancy Sylvester is founder and director of emulate, 23-year-old Elyse McMahon turns the Institute for Communal Contemplation to a more idyllic model: the Beatitudes. and Dialogue. She served in leadership of her own religious community, the Sisters, Gleaned from 16 years of Catholic Servants of the Immaculate Heart of education, she calls the Beatitudes her Mary of Monroe, Michigan, as well as in the "guiding principles to live by." They form presidency of the Leadership Conference of her decisions and led her to El Paso, Texas, Women Religious. Prior to that, she was where she's serving as a legal assistant national coordinator of Network, the for Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy national Catholic social justice lobby. You Center during a yearlong internship with may be interested in the current Institute for the Loretto Volunteer Program. As a white Communal Contemplation and Dialogue female raised in Ohio, McMahon knew she'd program, "Enter the Chaos: Engage the be in the minority in El Paso, where more than 83% of the population is Latino. But

she made a conscious choice "not to At Xavier University in Cincinnati, Jesuits overstep, but take a backseat and listen to further strengthened that connection, people's needs." challenging Fath to be an engaged citizen. While majoring in international studies, she McMahon joins numerous Catholic women, participated in a one-week immersion trip to with strong roots in faith formation, who've El Salvador that "cemented" her desire to come to this border city to live out a call that work in immigration after clearly seeing the they say honors the sacredness and respect U.S. influence in Central America. for life their faith teaches. For American women, identifying as Catholic can be Eighteen years of Catholic education was troublesome in a political climate where "the best foundation and definitely the being pro-life reigns as the sole issue catalyst" for enabling Fath to make the connected to one's religion. But how these tough decision to move to El Paso in Catholic women, who range in age from 20s January 2019, leaving a position with a to 70s, define "pro-life" goes far beyond a private attorney. She took a significant pay single issue. cut, with more hours, to join Las Americas, where she'd volunteered a year earlier Steeped in Gospel teachings from a young during the family separation border crisis. age, through their home life, Catholic education and exemplar role models, they The bottom line was "I felt called, and I share several commonalities, including didn't know who I would be if I didn't go leaving comfortable, middle-class lives to back to Las Americas." accompany the most vulnerable.

McMahon was following a similar pattern. Faith in action While studying at a Jesuit high school, she "I was taught with a lot of real-person was introduced to Catholic social teaching examples of what living the Gospel is," said and human rights, then followed in her 25-year-old Alexandra "Alex" Fath, a mother's footsteps, attending the University paralegal at Las Americas who attended of Dayton, Ohio, in the Marianist tradition. Beaumont School for Girls in Cleveland Motivated by her faith to see Christ in Heights, Ohio. Founded by Ursuline nuns, others, she joined a homeless ministry in the school's faculty had included high school and spent a college summer Sr. Dorothy Kazel, a missionary who living in Appalachia as part of a 50-year-old was martyred in El Salvador in 1980. program rooted in relational service. Kazel's life of service is taught to students

"in such a personal way that I understood Through these personal encounters, what she the impact of my upbringing," Fath said. had been taught — that every life is sacred — became clear. In her junior year, El Paso gained a special place in McMahon's heart after she spent two weeks there interviewing people who effected change, as part of the Moral Courage Project. These experiences, combined with her growing disturbance over unjust immigration policy, instilled her interest in immigration advocacy and education equality. Alex Fath (Provided photo)

Elyse McMahon (Las Americas/Paige Censale) Carol Zuccarino (Pauline Hovey)

Lest anyone think Fath and McMahon's With ports of entry still closed to asylum generation were taught some new, seekers, people are climbing — and falling progressive Catholicism, Carol Zuccarino from — the 18-foot border wall, resulting in and Pat Delgado — women at least 50 years cervical fractures and broken bones that their senior — received the same Catholic require hospitalization. Upon their release, teachings through their college years. they're brought to Casa Oscar Romero, Zuccarino studied with the Sisters of where Zuccarino and fellow volunteers St. Joseph at Chestnut Hill College in provide rehab and listen to their stories. Philadelphia, and Delgado became inspired After years of living in Bolivia, Zuccarino, at Washington, D.C.'s Georgetown at 76, said what feeds her now is "just being University, where Jesuit Fr. Richard here and feeling humbled and privileged by McSorley preached on the Selma March and being able to do this work." the Vietnam War. Such faith-based examples led both women to the Peace Heidi Cerneka, another Maryknoll lay Corps. And eventually to El Paso. missioner, attended Catholic schools up

through a Jesuit-run grad school. Although Delgado's El Paso entry came via California she knew this intuitively, when Cerneka where she worked for Cesar Chavez and met studied religion at St. Mary's College, she her future husband in a United Farm "started to realize there's actually official Workers' picket line. She followed her legitimate Catholic teaching that says we're husband to the El Paso/Juárez border, supposed to care about justice and care for became immersed in the Mexican culture, my neighbor." and felt immediately at home, further

expanding the faith of this East Coast Anglo She took that dictate seriously, spending girl. many years in Brazil, Belize and Kenya

before obtaining a law degree from Loyola After being widowed for the second time, University Chicago to represent asylum Zuccarino, a former Maryknoll lay seekers in El Paso. Aware of the great need missioner, upended her life in Virginia, sold for immigration advocacy and the harm that her home and followed a call to "come to the government policy had inflicted, Cerneka border." She's currently volunteering came with "an obligation to listen first and at Annunciation House, a nonprofit that have my opinion formed by people of color provides hospitality to migrants and from the community who have lived refugees. experiences different from my own."

The dignity of human life Catholic studies, she became uncomfortable Rooted in prayer, community service and with those who made abortion the only pro- Gospel teachings, these women actively live life issue. At her local parish, she had been what the Catholic Church proclaims and told that "pro-life was the most important what the U.S. Conference of Catholic issue and I didn't need to worry about social Bishops' website heralds, "that human life is justice issues. That message was ignoring all sacred and that the dignity of the human that I had been learning." person is the foundation of a moral vision for society." Facing her first presidential election in 2016, McMahon had to do a "major inner And, for these women, that translates into reflection" as to what was most aligned with being "pro-life." her beliefs and with Jesus' teachings that she had studied throughout her Catholic education.

For Delgado, the death penalty is a major pro-life issue. It wasn't until after she had raised five children and her parents had died that Delgado became more active in her faith beyond attending Mass. In El Paso, she discovered a deeply connected multicultural Catholic network of organizations, priests, sisters and lay missioners, all working in Heidi Cerneka (Maryknoll Lay solidarity with the most vulnerable, Missioners/Meinrad Scherer-Emunds) voiceless populations. That led her to oversee El Pasoans Against the Death In her challenging work as an immigration Penalty and the local Pax Christi, and get attorney, Cerneka faces human rights abuses involved in the Restorative Justice regularly. "To me, being pro-life is about Ministry at her parish, Christ the Savior. life with a capital L. Life in abundance. It's believing that everyone has the right to safety and security and happiness."

For Fath, it's even simpler. "I believe every human life deserves respect. God is in everyone, and you don't get to pick and choose who has value."

In her profession, Fath sees the ripple effects of domestic violence, which she calls a pro- life issue. "It's a cycle of intergenerational trauma and violence that affects so many Pat Delgado (Nelly Delgado) women and children every year. And it's multifaceted." The more she learned about prisoners on death row who'd been wrongly convicted, As McMahon learned more about issues the more passionate she became. And she's affecting the marginalized through her supported by El Paso Bishop Mark Seitz,

who is not just heavy on the pro-life Jesuit meditation or Mass readings for the abortion issue, but immigration and the day, before entering into centering prayer. death penalty as well. In "Night Will Be No Sometimes she prays the rosary while out More," his pastoral letter to the people of his walking. diocese after the Aug. 3, 2019, massacre of 22 people in El Paso, he confronted the evils For Fath, it is spiritual relationships, her of racism that have long been part of the connection with community, that offer the experience of many Hispanics. And he most support. She often turns to the writings has testified before Congress on the root of St. Óscar Romero and prays with causes of migration. Having the courage to Bishop Ken Untener's "A Step Along the speak out for human dignity, Seitz is a pro- Way" that is plastered to her bedroom wall. life advocate in Delgado's book. She needs such grounding practices because it's easy to unravel or feel overwhelmed Grounding in the Holy Spirit while encountering daily suffering. Yet, she Every morning before opening her laptop to said, "I'm able to feel proud of the work I do delve into distressing cases of asylum and have a deeper connection to it because seekers languishing in detention, Cerneka of the foundations that were taught through spends 30 minutes praying and reflecting, my Catholic upbringing." then joins her housemates in their backyard chapel for meditation. It's her way of McMahon can relate to that sense of spiritually grounding to meet the smallness in the face of suffering. unbelievable odds she faces in winning "Sometimes I feel like I can't effect change asylum cases in El Paso where more than working in immigration because so many 95% are denied. injustices are working against it. My faith allows me to see that there's a much bigger On the city's northeast side, Delgado starts picture in working alongside other her day with coffee, Scripture reflections advocates. If Christ were living here today, and the Give Us This Day missalette before he would be an advocate for immigrants." organizing Zoom meetings, peace vigils and a monthly Pax Christi newsletter. As she prays, through reflection and journaling, McMahon discerns how to tie Delgado held regular in-person vigils and her faith into her work. But her litmus test is demonstrations against war, the border wall the first Beatitude. "It's one of my favorite and the death penalty before the pandemic prayers of seeing God in the people I hit. Now she offers prayer vigils via Zoom accompany." for Texas death row inmates, which involves researching the person being executed and creating a reflection she changes up every time. Texas has kept Delgado busy, scheduling one execution every month for the first six months of 2021. And somewhere during her morning and evening, she offers intercessory prayer.

Midcity, not far from the detention center, Pauline Hovey Zuccarino does a morning reflection, using a Pauline Hovey is a writer living in Las Cruces, New Mexico, at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Last year, after all, was supposed to have Lent 2021: What to been the "lent-iest" Lent ever. From the declaration of the pandemic by the World give up, when you Health Organization in March, only a few weeks into the Lenten season, a new reality and understanding of the fragility of life, the feel like giving up loneliness of loss and isolation, the need for 19 February 2021 attentive engagement, and the call to prayer by Colleen Gibson in the face of uncertainty took hold. The prayer, fasting and almsgiving of that Spirituality Lenten season overflowed into the year that has been, creating a sense that Lent never

fully came to a close.

And so, as I returned my focus to the comic my friend sent, I wondered, "what's the point?"

After a year of grief and loss, isolation and distance, masks and protocols, what more could these 40 days offer? What could I possibly give up or take on this Lent? If that list of sacrifices keeps getting longer, why On the eve of Ash Wednesday, a comic not just give in and give up? strip appeared in my inbox under the subject line "The Lent-iest Lent Ever." In it, a man The temptation to give up is real. and woman stand side by side as the woman Last Lent, as the pandemic and its looks at a long list in her hands. The man, accompanying realities began to gain coffee cup in hand, casually asks her, "Did momentum, the season of Lent took on a you decide what you're giving up for Lent?" surreal air. The Lenten promises I had made paled in comparison to the ever-evolving With a look of mild uncertainty on her face reality of life in a time of pandemic. As a and eyes fixed on the list unfurled before result, I chose to put my Lenten practice her, the woman remarks, "First I need to aside. At the time, I felt that by not check the list of things I gave up for the following through for the full 40 days, I had pandemic." come up short in my Lenten commitment.

The person who sent me the comic jotted Looking back on that choice now, though, I one simple line below the comic: "With a know it was the right choice for me. The year like this, what's forty more days?" consciousness of God's presence that I longed to deepen by giving something up for Dripping with sarcasm, that wisecrack made Lent was heightened by the discernment to me smile in the face of the larger point the once again embrace the comfort of what I comic was hammering home. After the year was going without. My attention was needed we've had, what more could we give up? elsewhere and my ability to be fully present

31 to the situations at hand was enhanced by If giving up the drive to control is the first my choice to give up on what I'd given up. step in a liberating Lent, giving up our penchant to negatively judge is a closely That, of course, leads me to this Lent. linked second. Judgment, of course, is not By the time that comic came to my inbox, I necessarily a bad thing; it helps us to gain still hadn't decided the details of my Lenten perspective and assess situations. However, practice. There were groups I could take part when we recognize that our judgments are in, books I could read, prayers I could unkind and uncharitable, undergirded by a commit to, and small actions I could take on. need to control or lessen the "other," it's All of these practices would be good time to give them up. Just as with control, options, yet with a spirit bleary-eyed from this "giving up" of judgments is easier said Zoom calls, world news, and other demands, than done. Being able to relinquish our I felt less zealous about making a negative feelings and lay our judgments commitment and more resigned to endure aside for the benefit of others and ourselves the season as best I could. is a process of self-actualization, which takes both honesty and humility as we grow Looking at the woman in the comic, I in self-awareness and face our wondered: What do you give up when the imperfections. If we can give up the need to thought of doing one more thing is pass judgment, we can grow closer to the burdensome or the prospect of adding to the union to which God calls us and gain new growing list of daily sacrifices is daunting? perspective on the loving way God sees all What do you give up when you feel like of us, even those we can't stand. giving up? By letting go of the temptation to control The answers to those questions, surprisingly, and judge in our daily lives, we will emerged rather quickly. hopefully find ourselves freer to face the attachments of our egos and the drive to When we feel like giving up, perhaps one of hold tightly to the power, glory and the best things we can give up is the need to entitlement the world promises. Indeed, control every facet of our lives. The these promises are the falsehoods we pandemic has made strikingly clear that confront when we embrace prayer, fasting some things are simply out of our control. and almsgiving in the season of Lent. In and We cannot will the world to get back to through these practices we recognize our normal. Uncertainty is more commonplace reliance on God, raising our consciousness these days than we might be comfortable and giving up what stands in the way of a with, but what if we companion that deeper relationship with God. uncertainty, rather than trying to correct it by controlling ourselves and others? Deepening our relationship with God, after Relinquishing the need to achieve or to all, is the aim of whatever we give up or obsess over having everything in order may choose to do this Lent. For that reason, in fact be the best thing we can give up. In perhaps the greatest thing we could give up so doing, we give God the space to be in this Lent is the nagging feeling that we control and free ourselves from the illusion should give up. In this year full of sacrifices, that we are God, remembering instead that giving up would be a choice to relinquish God has made us to be human. hope and to dishonor all that we have been through. To give up on this season would be

32 to give in to despair and, in the process, to lose sight of where this Lenten journey A Climate- ultimately points us — to the hope-filled morning of Easter. Conscious Lent:

We carry a lot and, during this Lent especially, we need to be attentive to what The fossil fuel effect 19 February 2021 might lighten our load. Maybe we are being by Fr. Emmet Farrell called to let go of anger or hurt, judgement or control, sadness or selfishness, worry or Spirituality regret, offering in their place love and compassion both for our neighbors and for ourselves.

As we press on like the Israelites wandering in the desert, we cannot lose sight of hope and of the One who walks hopefully with us through this season, and every season, of our lives. With God as our companion, we may have to give up lots of things. Some of those sacrifices will be voluntary, while others will not. Still, we journey forward together, See: giving all we are and all we hope to be to Earth's human population has grown God and finding that no matter the season, exponentially. The number of people on the God will never give up on us. planet has increased from about 1 billion in

1800 to 2.5 billion by 1950, 6.1 billion at the turn of the century and 7.8 billion today. This population explosion could not have occurred without abundant cheap energy, particularly fossil fuels, writes William Rees, professor emeritus of human ecology and ecological economics at the University of British Columbia. Colleen Gibson A Sister of St. Joseph of Philadelphia, Colleen In a vicious circle, the rapidly growing Gibson currently serves as coordinator of services at the Sisters of St. Joseph population demanded ever greater supplies Neighborhood Center in Camden, New Jersey. of coal, oil and gas. Production increased to meet the demand, which continued to grow, resulting in even more production. This increase in the burning of fossil fuels is causing a dangerously rapid rise in average global temperatures.

Rees tells us that "half of all the fossil energy and many other essential resources ever used have been consumed in just the

past 30 to 35 years. Look no further to Justice Corner by Carolyn Krantz explain why human-induced climate change Pastoral Associate has suddenly become so urgent." This first Sunday of Lent is time to take stock of our lives, personally, communally Judge: and globally. The Epistles Reading says "The creation waits in eager expectation … Noah was “saved through water” which in hope that the creation itself will be “prefigures Baptism.” What do we see LIBERATED from its bondage to decay and when it rains, or when we drink a glass of brought into the glorious freedom of the water or wash our hands. Are we aware children of God." (Romans 8:19-21) enough to connect it to our Baptism? As the "The crisis facing God's earth is clear. We, rain hits our face, do we embrace its as stewards, have failed to live into our cleansing power for the earth? responsibility to care for creation and have instead abused it in ways that now threaten We are certainly in need of cleansing life around the planet. … 'A transition to personally and as a people. No one escapes energy efficiency and renewable energy imperfection and some of us feel the power sources will combat global warming, protect of evil more intensely. When I watched the human health, create new jobs, and ensure a impeachment trial, I felt the power of one secure, affordable energy future.'" (2004 man trying to control a whole segment of the Book of Resolutions, "Energy Policy citizenry. It felt that truth did not matter and Statement") (United Methodist Church lies reigned supreme. Some parts were Statement on Climate Change). informative and historical, but others were about condemnation of others and Act: justification for inaction. It made me want • Learn what a carbon footprint is and learn to make sure that I was listening to God in how to calculate yours. Online tools Whom I was baptized and not humans who available include this calculator from the twist the truth. University of California, Berkeley, and this one from the U.S. Environmental Protection There is a passage in Mark 7:37 which says Agency. that Jesus was known because he made the • Write or call one or more of your elected deaf speak and the mute hear. I began to representatives to ask them to put a price on pray for that: that the deaf would hear and carbon emissions. the mute would speak. The trial was not a • Adjust your driving routine to reduce fuel reality show but an opportunity for those use, or consider switching to an electric who listen to God to hear His word and vehicle. speak His truth. Christians are not baptized to be silent in the face of power. Why was Jesus so critical of the leaders of his time? Why did He spend most of His time among the poor of his community? Why did He speak in parables and only reveal the words of His Father to a small few?

These are confusing and disruptive times. If Fr. Emmet Farrell we are a praying people, we must close our Fr. Emmet Farrell is director of creation care ears to false statements and speak up when ministry for the Diocese of San Diego.

people utter false and hurtful diatribes. among “wild beasts.” When it gets wild out Have you spoken against racism lately or there, know that angels are on the way. He been an ally to a person of color, or listened has promised, but we have to “wade in the to the words of someone who continually water” before the angels come. has experienced injustice in housing, jobs and opportunity? This is not comfortable, it Parish Perspective by takes courage. We have been saved by Peter Degl’Innocenti, Pastoral Associate water and we must wade through it to get to A Covenant for All Things salvation. The old Negro spiritual says, Remarkable! How long has it been since “Wade in the water; God's gonna trouble the we’ve read or heard good news like this? water.” The waters are certainly swirling God is making a covenant that is universal these days, but He has promised to be with in its scope. us. He has made a covenant with us. We are His people, the flock that He tends. He The first part of the covenant is with Noah still commands the storm. and all his descendants afterwards. That means us. We today enjoy the fruits, What does it mean to be a covenanted blessings, and safeguards of the covenant. people? It means we can trust his word. He We see rainbows every winter “in the will never leave us. When Christianity got clouds” and much more often depicted in art aligned with the power of Rome in the year-round. We hear of rainbows in poetry fourth century, some of its followers felt the and song, yet how often have we brought to need to go into the desert to pray and be mind the reassuring comfort that rainbows cleansed, to better hear God's inspiration in represent? scripture and to teach others. They left us a legacy of important teaching. There were Secondly, God extends the covenant to Abbots and Abbesses who led whole schools every living creature, and presumably their of followers who saw that earthy power was descendants as well, that came out of the not the goal. Look them up. See what they ark. This is remarkable in that we are shown accomplished. Meditate on their sayings. the total embracing measure of God’s love for all living things, not just mankind. God “This is the time of fulfillment; the Reign of finds life one of his most loved creations. God is at hand,” the song says. It takes a lot Life is like God. Life (God’s) identifies with of prayer time to see the reign of God these all life as kindred. We, along with plants and days. Let us take stock in the coming weeks animals are made of the same “stuff” as all and let go of our opinions and arguments. life, amino acids, protein, cells, organs, and What did Jesus say to the storm while the so on. After all, we live in the same physical disciples hovered in fear in the boat? “Be world and universe. God doesn’t need to still.” And in another place, “Be still and reinvent the wheel just to create humanity. know that I am God.” We don't know the purpose of the troubled waters we are in, but Lastly, we find God making overtones about we know how to respond. Be present, be the covenant encompassing the physical still, see what is around you. Rejoice in the earth. God proclaims, “…there shall not be little things. Make peace among your another flood to devastate the earth.” and relatives and friends. “…as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” It is easy to push aside in our Jesus in the desert was tempted. He was thinking the non-living things that God has

35 created as unworthy of his solemn protection and covenants, but they aren’t. They are most generously included. God holds special and valuable all the things he has created. Think of all the valuable things created by mankind. Scores of the world’s most beautiful music, statues of rich bronze or highly polished marble, paintings irreplaceable by DaVinci, Rembrandt, or Van Gogh. Are not the least of their doodling worth a fortune now? So it is with God. He values all he creates and that, my friend includes you! Each and every one of us is valued in the highest by God; so much so that he offers up his own Son for our spiritual and living redemption.

The rainbow is our assurance of God’s physical protection from any further world devastating floods. Jesus is our assurance of God’s eternal love and our shared everlasting life.

First Sunday of Lent

Guide us, Lord Lord, our time of trial, you brought salvation to Noah through stay close to us. the waters Carry us through our temptations. and carried him through his time of trial Remove all that keeps us apart from you. to a covenant of love. Lead us by the right paths All times and all seasons belong to you. so that we may live in the light of your love. As we now begin this time, this season, We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sunday, February 21, 2021 Forty Days

Today’s readings: Genesis 9:8–15; Psalm 25:4–5, 6–7, 8–9; hear Jesus proclaim that the kingdom of God is at hand, the 1 Peter 3:18–22; Mark 1:12–15. After Jesus was baptized in time for which they have been awaiting has come. At the the Jordan River, the Spirit drove him out into the desert, very beginning of our season of preparation, we hear pro- where he experienced temptation. Sometimes we fail to con- claimed the fruits that await us at its conclusion. sider that, in the incarnation, Jesus took on every bit of the In this season of Lent, we have forty days to confront human experience, except sin. He knew what it was to be our temptations. We hear Jesus calling us to repent and tempted, to face trials. believe in the Gospel. How might we use these forty days to In the Bible, the number forty symbolizes a time of ready ourselves to hear the proclamation at its end? What trial or testing. In today’s readings, Jesus’ forty days in the must I repent of so that I may better believe? This week, desert are placed alongside the experience of Noah and his think about obstacles that hold you back from God’s love. family, the forty days of the flood. Neither reading leaves us Consider your temptations. How can you use this season to in a time of trial. In the reading from Genesis, we see the make yourself ready for what is to come? rainbow, the sign of God’s covenant with Noah. In Mark, we This Week at Home Thursday, February 25 Ask, Seek, Knock Monday, February 22 In today’s Gospel we are told to ask, to seek, to knock. Does this mean that God will give us our every desire? From both Feast of the Chair of St. Peter reason and experience, we know that sometimes we want The people who surrounded Jesus often wondered about his things that are not good for us. Yet we are called to bring our identity. He healed the sick, forgave sins, preached the com- needs and desires before God, who desires every good thing ing of the kingdom of God. Walking alongside him, seeing for us. What need can you entrust to God? How might giving all that he did, Peter must have wondered about this question it over to God transform its role in your life? Today’s read- too. When Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter ings: Esther C:12, 14–16. 23–25; Psalm 138:1–2ab, 2cde–3, answers readily: Jesus is the Messiah, the one for whom all 7c–8; Matthew 7:7–12 Israel has been waiting. Jesus founds the Church on Peter’s . proclamation. What is your response to the query “Who do you say that Jesus is?” Today’s readings: 1 Peter 5:1–4; Friday, February 26 Psalm 23:1–3a, 4, 5, 6; Matthew 16:13–19. Go First and Be Reconciled Jesus’ words about anger are challenging. Anger can come Tuesday, February 23 upon us easily, and sometimes we allow that emotion to gov- ern our actions. But Jesus teaches another way. He says that The Lord’s Prayer before we bring our gift to the altar, we must go and be rec- When we step back to consider the prayer that Jesus taught onciled with the one we have wronged. How hard it is to and we memorized long ago, the challenge of the Lord’s admit we have made a mistake! Apologize to someone you Prayer is seen in a new way. In saying “thy kingdom come,” have hurt and seek out the sacrament of reconciliation this we long for God’s kingdom of justice and righteousness. But week. Today’s readings: Ezra 18:21–28; Psalm 130:1–2, are we anxious to do God’s will, so that it is done on earth as 3–4, 5–7a, 7bc–8; Matthew 5:20–26 it is in heaven? Do we forgive, even as we long to be for- . given? Take some time to meditate over each line of the prayer, perhaps writing each line and journaling with it. Saturday, February 27 What might God be calling you to, as you reflect on the Love Your Enemies prayer that Jesus taught? Today’s readings: Isaiah 55:10–11; Jesus’ instructions to love our enemies and pray for persecu- Psalm 34:4–5, 6–7, 16–17, 18–19; Matthew 6:7–15. tors are familiar, yet somehow these instructions never fail to cause discomfort. Love our enemies? Pray for those Wednesday, February 24 who persecute us? Our natural inclination is to hurt those who have hurt us, to return actions in kind. Jesus holds us Turn Away from Sin to a standard that seems impossible. This week, consider a After his sojourn in the belly of the fish, Jonah traveled to person who has hurt you. Say one Hail Mary for that person Nineveh as God commanded. Upon hearing Jonah call them and then another. As Mother Teresa said, prayer changes me to repentance, the Ninevites changed their lives. It is tempt- and I change things. See what happens when you entrust that ing to seek big signs, but the call to conversion is daily. How person to God. Today’s readings: Deuteronomy 26:16–19; can you reorient your life toward God today? How can you Psalm 119:1–2, 4–5, 7–8; Matthew 5:43–48 turn away from those things that are holding you back from . his love? Today’s readings: Jonah 3:1–10; Psalm 51:3–4, 12–13, 18–19; Luke 11:29–32.

© 2021 Liturgy Training Publications. 800-933-1800. Written by Kathryn Ball-Boruff. Illustrated by Kate Cosgrove. Scripture quotations are from the New American Bible, revised edition. Permission to publish granted by the Archdiocese of Chicago, on July 6, 2020. St. Ignatius of Antioch 15th Annual St. Joseph’s Day Dinner

Friday March 19, 2021 6:00-6:45 p.m. Pickup time

*Due to the COVID Pandemic, we will be offering our dinner as a Drive Up/ Take Home event this year.

Dinner will be catered by Zandonella’s Catering! The menu is: Pasta with Marinara Sauce, Italian Salad, Roll & Butter. For dessert, Cannoli and Cuccidati.

Dinner is $25.00

There will be a St. Joseph’s Day Raffle!

______Prepayment is required. Deadline is 03/15/21.

(Please make checks payable to St. Ignatius of Antioch Church)

Name ______

Phone: ______

Number of Dinners: ______X $25.00 = ______

Number of Raffle Tickets: 10 for $10.00: ______(There are 10 raffle baskets - one ticket per basket) TOTAL: ______

Please SEND TO: 209 Tanganyika Court Antioch, CA 94509 or DROP IN COLLECTION after Mass/ Communion or place in DROP BOX at church gate.

*All proceeds benefit the St. Ignatius of Antioch Expansion Project.

*Sponsored by the Social Events Committee. February 2021 Opportunities for Involvement

Ruby Slippers Virtual Gala: This year, Hope Solutions will present our annual fundraising gala, Ruby Slippers- There’s No Place Like Home in the comfort of your own home on Saturday, February 27th, 2021. Ruby Slippers will be virtual and live-streamed from the Ruby Slippers Gala event page. FREE event registration at: https://hopesolutions.ejoinme.org/RubySlippers2021.

Hope Solutions Art and Poetry Community Project: We invite you to consider the question, “how do you know you are home?” by creating an original piece of art or poetry and submit a photo (or file). We will showcase submissions from the Hope Solutions Community Art & Poetry Project during our Virtual Gala on February 27, 2021. This collective creative exploration is open to people of all ages, especially children. Link: https://tinyurl.com/yynbd9uy

Homework Club Support: We are looking for compassionate individuals to help in our (now virtual) afterschool Homework Club that runs from August through June. You will provide academic and mentoring support to children from extremely low-income homes in grades K-12. Commitment is one day a week, either AM or PM, Monday through Thursday for the remaining of the school year. Adults and high school sophomores through seniors are encouraged to apply at www.hopesolutions.org/volunteer.

Furnishings: Every month we have families and individuals moving into homes. We try our best to provide furnishings and household items for incoming residents. This month we are looking for furnishings as well as cleaning supplies, kitchen kits, bath towels, dishes, pots and pans, and silverware. We are in need of beds and bedding. This month we are in need of several full- and twin-size beds. Please note that mattresses and bedding must be new. If you are able to donate any of these items or would like more information, please contact Sandibel Arnold at [email protected]. For a complete list of furnishings and items needed this month, please take a look at the attached Furnishing Request sheet here.

Volunteers for Preschool Reading: We are looking for volunteers that would like to read for children in our virtual preschool program. We are also looking for volunteers interested in hosting an art, physical, or music activity for preschoolers. If you are interested in hosting an activity for the children in our preschool program, please contact Sandibel Arnold at [email protected].

Valentine’s Day Grams: As the season of Valentines approaches, we need your help to bring smiles to the children in our Homework Club. We are looking for donations of small Valentine’s Day items to create Valentine Grams for the children. If you are interested in donating small items or small goodie bags, please contact Sandibel Arnold at [email protected].

Seeking In-Kind Donations:

▪ New Twin and Full size mattresses and bedding as well as frames and platforms ▪ $25 gift cards to Grocery Outlet, FoodMaxx, or Walmart ▪ Menstrual products of all kinds ▪ Diapers size 1 through 6 and baby wipes for families in our program ▪ $5 Starbucks and Jamba Juice gift cards for report card check-ins ▪ Welcome Kits for new families moving into permanent housing (laundry basket filled with cleaning supplies, small household items, and $25 gift card to FoodMaxx or Grocery Outlet) ▪ Cleaning supplies for our multi-site clients (Comet, Windex, Simple Green, buckets, mops, etc.)

Stay informed! Like us on Facebook @hopesolutionsnonprofit Get all the latest news about Hope Solutions and the housing landscape in Contra Costa County. Read stories about our impact, and the many residents we serve together. Sign up for our mailing list here: https://tinyurl.com/lgdp3gs.

For more information, please go to our website: https://www.hopesolutions.org/ or contact Sandibel Arnold, Volunteer and Donations Coordinator at [email protected] or call 925-788-3676. Hope Solutions formerly known as Contra Costa Interfaith Housing is a 501(C)3 organization.