Friends of Blessed Sacrament,

On Wednesday, February 17, 2021, our Catholic Church enters the holy season of Lent. Unlike the preparation season of Advent, Lent is a time for us to pause, repent and clean our hearts and minds ahead of Easter. During the 40 Days of Lent, Christians around the world take time to increase their prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

As the Principal of our parish school, I have selected Give Us Clean Hands as the theme for our Lenten journey.  It has been almost a year since our lives were turned upside down. We have faced challenges and obstacles, frustration and anxiety, and sickness and death. Our faith, however, that God will never abandon us.  Although it might be easier to focus solely on the pain and sorrow Good Friday, we must remember the joy and peace that comes with Easter Sunday.  It is my prayer that every member of our community, from our youngest student to our oldest grandparent, uses these 40 days to clean our hands so that we may purify our hearts.

To learn more about Lent, check out Lent in 3 Minutes which provides an overview of Lent’s meaning, traditions and practices.

For many people, Lent is a time of “giving up” something – sweets, candy, sodas, bread, meat.  While this continues to be an important tradition for Catholics, I invite you to dive deeper into your heart and mind and focus on Fasting & Feasting!

We can fast from being discontent and feast on gratitude.

We can fast from anger and feast on patience.

We can fast from pessimism and feast on optimism.

We can fast from complaining and feast on appreciation.

We can fast from bitterness and feast on forgiveness.

We can fast from self-centeredness and feast on compassion for others.

We can fast from discouragement and feast on hope.

We can fast from gossiping and feast on silence.

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and School are providing a number of opportunities for individuals and families to grow during this Lenten season.  I invite you to read below on the various events and activities knowing that you are always welcomed!

  • Daily Mass – 6:30 a.m. (M-F), 8:00 a.m. (M-F), 5:30 p.m. (Mondays)
  • Confession – Saturdays, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00p.m.
  • Stations of the Cross – Fridays, 6:00 p.m. (Spanish) and 7:00 p.m. (English) in the Church
  • Adult Faith Formation (Virtual) – February 24, 2021 and March 3, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
  • Reconciliation Service – Thursday, April 2, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.
  • Sedar Meal – Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
  • Living Stations of the Cross – Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 8:30 a.m.
  • Mass of the Lord’s Last Supper – Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
  • Passion of the Lord & Veneration of the Cross – Friday, April 2, 2021 at 3:00 p.m.
  • Tenebrae – Friday, April 2, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
  • Easter Vigil – Saturday, April 3, 2021 at 8:00 p.m.

Please know that I continue to pray for you and your family daily.  May the Holy Family of Jesus, the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph continue to watch over you.

Michael Fierro

Principal