The Lenten season is a time for repentance, conversion, and reconciliation. The parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, in conjunction with the USCCB’s “The Light is ON for You” campaign, are joining together to offer numerous opportunities for the faithful to partake in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Every Lent, Catholics receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation or speak with a priest after being away from the Church for 10, 15, 25, or more years. As part of this year’s initiative we invite you to make a commitment to pray in a special way for family members, friends, col-leagues, and neighbors who are alienated from the Church or who are inactive in the practice of their faith. Join us this Lent in quiet prayer for all those who are seeking to reconcile with God and the Church.

Here at St. Ann, we will have a Penance Service on Wednesday night, April 2, at 7pm in the church. We will have extra confessors around to celebrate God’s mercy and his desire to reconcile everyone to His love. If you have been away from the sacrament for awhile, this is an excellent opportunity to experience God’s mercy again in your life.

In addition to those prayers, I ask your prayers for our two candidates who are journeying toward the ‘full communion of the Catholic church” this Easter. Carrie Walther is an UMSL student, majoring in Music Education, who approached me last fall, wanting to know all about the Catholic church. Dee Henderson is our teacher’s aide over in the school. Her journey began when her children were baptized two years ago into the Catholic faith. Now they will be one at the Lord’s altar. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue their formation and preparation to be received into the church.

Finally, a lot of things happen behind the scenes to make our fish fry a success. This afternoon, as I was working in my sitting room, I heard the sound of the radio in the gar-age. I went down and there were Al Durand and Pat Boul working away at restoring one of the fryers which stopped working after the first week. It turns out it was a wire that had worked itself loose. I hope they were able to fix it. Obviously, we have managed without it, but it is immensely helpful to have both fryers up and running. Thanks to the both of them, and ALL the folks who do so many things simply and quietly behind the scenes! You truly make this a blessed parish.