Dear Blessed Sacrament Families,
In just a few days, the Catholic Church will begin the season of Lent. Lent is a time for simplicity, reflection, and preparation for the Paschal Mystery—Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection on Easter Sunday. This holy season is a gift from the Church, inviting us to step back from the busyness of everyday life and focus on our relationship with God. Over the next 40 days, we are called to reflect, repent, pray, and renew ourselves in faith.
This year, I have chosen A Heart of Surrender as our spiritual theme as we journey together toward Easter. Surrendering to God’s will and opening our hearts to His grace and guidance is central to our Catholic faith. By reflecting on the examples of Abraham, Noah, Moses, our Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, St. Peter, and the Apostles, we see that true transformation happens when we surrender our hearts to God and allow Him to lead us.
Surrendering our hearts to God means letting go of control, trusting in His plan, and following His will. But this is not always easy. Many of us struggle with fear, anxiety, frustration, and even pride which make it difficult to surrender. The challenges of our current world—economic, political, and social—can also create barriers that prevent us from being open and vulnerable to God’s guidance. Yet it is only through surrender that we can experience the true peace and spiritual growth that come from trusting God fully.
Throughout Lent, the Scripture readings remind us that Jesus shows us the ultimate example of surrender. In His Passion, Crucifixion, and Resurrection, He surrenders His heart to God the Father. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prays, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”
As your Principal, I encourage each member of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic School community to follow Christ’s example. Let us offer our hearts in complete trust and obedience to God’s will. Together, let us surrender our burdens, struggles, and worries to God as we look forward to the joy of Easter Sunday.
The Church guides us through the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These practices help us grow in our relationship with God and each other. Prayer helps us surrender our hearts and open ourselves to His guidance. Fasting and almsgiving allow us to detach from material things and focus more on God and others.
As a community, Blessed Sacrament Catholic School will provide opportunities for families, staff, and students to deepen their prayer lives through personal reflection, daily practices, and communal worship. We will also encourage everyone to practice acts of kindness and generosity, reminding ourselves that the resources we have are gifts from God to share with others in love and service.
In addition to these traditional practices, I invite all of us at Blessed Sacrament to live with A Heart of Surrender within our school community. Let us work together to create a culture of compassion by listening, understanding, and supporting one another within our Blessed Sacrament family.
Wherever you are on your faith journey, I pray that you embrace this Lenten season as a time to grow closer to God and practice surrender in every area of your life. Remember, surrender is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength in faith, love, and trust in God.
I will pray daily that God grants us the grace to live with a heart of surrender during this Lenten season. May God fill our hearts with peace and openness.
Surrendering my heart,
Michael Fierro
Principal