3/2/25 - Father Maassen's Ash Wednesday Message
Dear Missionaries of Jesus Christ,
Welcome to Lent! This March 5th is Ash Wednesday, the day on which Lent commences. In the Catechism, we read that “Lent is the liturgical season of forty days which begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with the celebration of the Paschal Mystery (Easter Triduum). Lent is the primary penitential season in the Church’s liturgical year, reflecting the forty days Jesus spent in the desert in fasting and prayer.”
On Ash Wednesday, when the priest or minister distributes ashes, he has two options to say, which are “remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return,” or “repent and believe in the Gospel.” The words “repent and believe in the Gospel” echo the first public preaching of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Mark and Matthew.
What is repentance? The Greek word “metanoia” means “to change your mind” and the Hebrew counterpart means “to return.” This message "urges listeners to change the direction of their lives, to adopt a new way of thinking and acting. Repentance is the effort one makes to tum away from all that is sinful and selfish and to accept the responsibility of living by the standards of God" (Curtis Mitch on the Gospel of Matthew). On Ash Wednesday, we receive ashes as a reminder of our death and a sign of internal repentance. So, Lent, which is a season of repentance, helps us to follow
Christ more closely, deepen our relationship with Him, and leave sin behind, so we will inherit a share in the Resurrection.
If you have been away for months, years, please come back. You are always welcome here.
Please check our website and bulletin for all the weekly scheduled times. We are offering a Combined Parish Reconciliation Evening at Borgia on March 30th from 7:00 pm until all confessions are heard, and you can always schedule the reception of the sacrament of Reconciliation with any priest. In addition, there will be an opportunity for Reconciliation after the 10 am Mass on Sundays during Lent and on the Wednesday during Holy Week from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm.
If you have missed a Sunday Mass without a serious reason, know that God's mercy and forgiveness await you in the sacrament of Reconciliation.
This needs to happen before receiving the Holy Eucharist. Know that God’s love and mercy are always available to you! As a reminder, the regular times of opportunity for the sacrament of Reconciliation and our current Mass schedule is listed on the back. We also have Exposition of the Eucharist on Tuesdays from 7:30 am through 6:15 pm.
If there is anything either of the priests can help you with, please call the parish office at 636-239-6701.
Sincerely in Christ,
Father Maassen
