A Shepherd's Message - Lent 2026

The holy season of Lent prepares our hearts and minds to celebrate Easter. This season of grace provides us with an opportunity to invite the Lord into our weakness and vulnerability. We allow Jesus to heal and strengthen the areas of life that are in need of His mercy and compassion.

The Church gives us the pillars of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to guide us on our journey. Prayer places God at the center. Fasting reminds us that our appetites do not rule us. Almsgiving shifts our attention to our brothers and sisters in need. These practices create space for the Lord to work within our hearts.

On Sunday, March 15, the Church celebrates “Rejoice Sunday,” which marks the halfway point of Lent and encourages us to persevere. At this point, some of us may need to begin again, and there is no shame in this because we serve a God who readily forgives. For the remainder of this season, I encourage you to take on one or two practices that foster communion rather than isolation.

For prayer, choose a daily moment of silence to listen to the Word of God. Read the Gospel of the day and ask the Lord for one concrete step to take. Pray by name for a person who has been difficult to love. Pray for the Catechumens and Candidates who will come into full communion with the Church at Easter. Replace one online scroll with 10 minutes of intercession.

For fasting, our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, in his Lenten message, invited us to refrain from words that of-fend and hurt others and choose speech that honors the dignity of every person. In place of harsh words, we can cultivate kindness and respect. If we do this, “words of hatred will give way to words of hope and peace,” said Pope Leo.

For almsgiving, choose a work of mercy. Volunteer with a parish ministry. Visit a neighbor who is home-bound. Write a note to someone who is grieving. When we serve the poor, we meet Christ. Our almsgiving should lead us to encounter the face of Christ.

Our Holy Father reminds us that Lent is a “shared journey.” Together, in our parishes, families and communities, we more intentionally pray, fast and give alms to become more united as a Church and more con-formed to our Lord, Jesus Christ. Holiness is not an isolated and private endeavor; rather, it takes place within our community of faith.

Pope Leo reminds us, “conversion refers not only to one’s conscience, but also to the quality of our relation-ships and dialogue. It means allowing ourselves to be challenged by reality and recognizing what truly guides our desires — both within our ecclesial communities and as regards humanity’s thirst for justice and recon-ciliation.” In this holy season, we grow together as the body of Christ so that the world can experience His tender love and compassion.

Finally, remember that Christ walks with us. If we keep our eyes on Him, this season will not be one more burden, but it will be a path of renewal that prepares us to enter the Paschal Mystery with hearts made new.