Each year the season of Lent invites us to slow down, reflect, and return more deeply to the Lord. As a parish family, we now begin a special moment of grace: our Lenten Mission. This time of prayer and reflection is a beautiful opportunity for all of us to renew our relationship with Christ and to prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter. “If you knew the Gift of God” you wouldn’t miss this grace-filled opportunity.
As we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Lent today, the Church presents to us the moving story of the man born blind in the Gospel of John. Jesus restores the man’s physical sight, but even more importantly, He opens his spiritual eyes. By the end of the story, the man is able to say with faith: “Lord, I believe.”
Once again, today’s Gospel reminds us that Lent is not only about giving things up; it is about allowing Christ to open our eyes. Sometimes we move through life without truly seeing; without recognizing God's presence, without noticing the needs of others, and without seeing clearly the areas where we need conversion. Our Lenten Mission is meant to help us pause and allow the light of Christ to shine into our hearts.
The Fourth Sunday of Lent is also called Laetare Sunday, a day that invites us to rejoice even in the middle of our Lenten journey. The Church reminds us that the light of Easter is already drawing near. Our parish mission is part of that light. It is a time when the Lord desires to renew our faith, strengthen our hope, and deepen our love.
A parish mission is more than a series of talks. It is a spiritual encounter. Through the preaching of the Word of God, moments of prayer with the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and Confessions, the Lord offers us the grace of healing and renewal.
I warmly invite every member of our parish to participate. Whether you come every day or even for one evening, open your heart to what God wishes to do in your life. Bring your family members, invite a friend, and come ready to listen to the voice of the Lord.
Like the man in the Gospel, may we allow Jesus to touch our lives so that we too may see more clearly and profess with faith: “Lord, I believe.” May this Lenten Mission be a moment of grace for our entire parish as we continue our journey toward the celebration of the Resurrection at Easter.
God is Good, All the Time!
Father Tony Udoh, MSP
Pastor of Holy Family
