My dear sisters and brothers in Christ:

This coming week is going to be a time of transitions for many of us. Spring officially arrives this week, and though we might still get a late-season snowstorm, the warmer weather and longer days are very welcome. For our college students, the second half of the spring semester is looming, and for our seniors, graduation and the next chapter in life is beginning to become more and more of a reality. In the life of the Church, we move from the heart of the Lenten season into thy mysteries of Holy Week and the great Triduum. And in a particular way, those adults who have been participating in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adult (OCIA) are looking forward to receiving the new life in Christ through reception of the Sacraments of Initiation. Whatever change we may be encountering, whether welcome or not, it is a good time for us to reflect upon those things that do not change in our lives, those constants which keep us anchored to life.

First and foremost, we need to remember God, the source of our life and salvation. Having spent almost five weeks in more intense prayer and sacrifice in an effort to grow closer to God, there is sometimes a temptation as we move out of Lent to return to former ways of living. We can be tempted to see our Lenten sacrifices as simply an obstacle course we had to navigate, and once completed it is done until the next Lent. However, the growth we have experienced this Lent is not meant to end just because Lent is over. Like so many other good things in life, it is meant to continue.

If we have found strength and consolation in more prayer, greater sacrifices, more frequent acts of service, why stop? Let’s continue, maybe not in exactly the same manner (desserts may be back in our diets) but stay committed to prayer, sacrifice, and service. God is constantly calling us deeper and deeper into His embrace and a relationship that will sustain us in the most difficult times. We must not lose this firm and most important foundation.

Next, our families and friends who support us. Do we remember them in prayer as much as we should? Do we reach out to stay connected to them in personal and significant ways? While texts and emails are important parts of our communication network, do we try to communicate in more direct and personal ways — telephone, written letters and cards, personal visits? There are many commentators who note that in a world where we can communicate so easily, we are perhaps the loneliest generations ever because our communication is done only through electronic means. While convenient, these methods do not encourage a real sharing of self.  Sharing thoughts over a cup of coffee in a kitchen, having a conversation while walking with a friend, writing a letter to a sibling who may be struggling — these may be better than any meme or Instagram post. Our families and friends are gifts from God and deserve more than passing acknowledgments.

As we move into these transitional times, may we keep God, families, and friends at the center of our lives. They provide us with the anchor we need to stay firm in the rapidly changing tides of life.

Peace,

Msgr. John J. McDermott

Diocesan Administrator