Ash Wednesday, 2005
Sticking Agent
Forgive
Us For we Have Sinned
As a church family, we’re aware of ways in which we’ve sinned.
We try hard not to be a source of hurt, but there are times we’ve
failed. Racism, abuse of young people, hypocrisy, insensitive remarks,
judgmental attitudes, lack of expected care... the list of hurts can
be quite long and lasting.
If you find it hard to come to church each week because you were sinned
against in the past, maybe this is the Lent we can make peace and find
healing for these hurts. Why let the bad things of the past lead to
a future without the Eucharist?
Our parish staff is ready and willing to do what it takes to mend the
past and open up a more fulfilling future.
You can e-mail me:
shepherd@saintbrigid.net
or write me a note:
75 Post Ave
Westbury NY 11590
if you’re looking for a way to come back.
Catholic
Ministries Appeal
I’ve pledged. Have you?
You can pledge online here!
At
College?
At St. Brigid’s we like to stay in touch through
e-mail “letters from home.”
Once a person has an e-mail address at school (or if he/she uses a personal
address), please let us know what it is so we can include them when
we write.
Here's a handy college link so you
can send this info online.
e-mail Father Ralph:
Past Columns:
February 6: Ashes Already?
January 23: Catholic Schools
Week
January 16: Continued Charity
January 9: Migration
January 2:All is bright?
December 26:
A Blessed Christmas
December 19: Here comes everybody!
December 12: The Journey Continues
Columns from 2004
Columns from 2003
Columns from 2002
I love
to garden and I can’t wait for the winter to be over so I can start
planting. The first seeds to go in are the peas (plant them on St. Patrick’s
Day) and to increase the yield of the crop, it’s good to coat them
with an innoculant which usually comes in a powder that actually looks
like Ash Wednesday’s ashes. But first it’s important to coat
the seeds with a “sticking agent” so that the innoculant sticks
to the seeds as they’re planted.
So this Ash Wednesday I’ve
got the idea in my head that when I mark people’s foreheads, maybe
the ashes will act like a “sticking agent”. That is, I hope
now that Lent has begun and we’ve marked ourselves with this sign
of our commitment to change our lives, people will stick to coming to
church every weekend.
Even after 21 years of being a
priest I’m amazed at how the phones ring off the hook for days before
Ash Wednesday with people seeking Ashes...people arrive and actually park
all over the lawn leaving long-lasting lenten ruts, just to get ashes.
There is a non-stop pilgrimage to get dirt from sunrise to after sunset.
(All this, mind you on a day that’s not even a holy day of obligation!)
And every priest can tell stories of a communion time when at least one
person has turned down the Body of Christ in favor of desiring ashes at
that moment!
I’m always happy and excited to see so many folks coming on Ash
Wednesday. (Really, I’m glad you’re here today!!) It’s
just that I wish you’d come back again on Sunday, the Lord’s
Day. I truly hope this year’s ashes are “sticking agents.”
Why? Because I know that it’s
Jesus’ fondest wish that you are one with him and all of us. Just
before he leaves his apostles to go to his death, he prays to his Father
“that all may be one.” Jesus not only gave his life for you
and me 2000 years ago, but he’s here each Sunday mass to give us
life again...and again. I know I need his life, his help, his love. And
I find it here. You can too. This Lent, why not plan to stick around?
You are Person
