Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Peace and well-being to you and your families. We will begin our Lenten journey next week with the celebration of Ash Wednesday. This is a significant and beautiful day for us as Catholics when we are given this opportunity to humble ourselves before God and begin the 40 days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving that is Lent. We are marked with ashes to signify our need for God’s grace and our repentance from sin. I encourage you to participate in this day with your family and loved ones, reflecting and praying together about what it really means for us, people of faith.
Ash Wednesday is one of two days of fasting that occur during Lent; and we also fast from eating meat every Friday of Lent. As you know, this year Ash Wednesday falls on February 14, which is also St. Valentine’s Day. While Valentine’s Day for many includes enjoying big meals with meat and sweets or special meals, it is my expectation that this day of fasting for Ash Wednesday will be observed by all Catholics in the Diocese on February 14 (normal age exceptions for Lent apply). Let us pray that abstaining from sweets and delicious foods on this day will help us begin our Lenten journey with event greater purpose and dedication, in order to strengthen our spiritual lives. I will keep you in my prayers; please pray for me. Have a blessed Lenten Season.
In Christ’s merciful love,
Bishop Alberto Rojas
