Where are you on your Lenten walk?

​

Dear Parish Family,

​

This past week I had lunch with a friend, and she gently asked how I was doing with the things I “gave up” for Lent. Without thinking, I quickly replied, “Pretty good,” and we moved on in conversation.

​

But as I drove home, that simple question stayed with me.

​

How am I really doing? Not just with candy or coffee or the small comforts I chose to set aside, but with my heart. If I am honest, I would say I am not doing terribly… but I am not doing great either. And perhaps that very honesty is part of the grace of this season.

​

It led me to a deeper question: Why do we give things up during Lent?

​

We do not fast simply to prove willpower. We do not sacrifice merely to check a box. We fast and pray and give because we desire to grow spiritually — to practice self-discipline, yes — but more importantly, to draw nearer to Christ. Through prayer, fasting, and acts of charity, we allow the Lord to gently reorder our hearts.

​

While candy, cookies, soda, or alcohol are often the first things that come to mind, Lent is far more than a diet of restrictions. It is an invitation. An invitation to pause. To reflect. To surrender the things that keep us distracted. To make room for grace.

​

Perhaps this week is a quiet moment for all of us to ask:

​

• Have I made space each day for prayer, even if only a few minutes of silence with the Lord?

• Is my fasting helping me grow in self-control and compassion for those who have less?

• Have I practiced almsgiving in a way that costs me something — time, comfort, attention?

• Am I allowing God to soften what has grown hard in my heart?

 

If you are like me and feel the need for a small reset, take heart. It is not too late. The beauty of Lent is that every day is a new opportunity to begin again.

​

Maybe that means:

• Turning off the noise and sitting quietly before the Blessed Sacrament.

• Reading a few verses of Scripture before bed instead of scrolling.

• Offering forgiveness where resentment has taken root.

• Reaching out to someone who is lonely or struggling.

• Praying intentionally for those carrying loss, anxiety, illness, or sadness this season.

 

Our Lord is not measuring our performance — He is seeking our hearts. Lent is not about perfection; it is about conversion. It is about walking — sometimes stumbling — but always moving closer to the Cross and the promise of Resurrection.

​

Please know that I am praying for each of you and for your Lenten journey. I ask humbly that you pray for me as well, that I may grow in sincerity, faithfulness, and love.

​

May this sacred season lead us more deeply into the heart of Christ.

​

Your Sister in Christ,
LeiLanie D’Agostino
Director of Communications