My dear parishioners and visitors of St. Ann’s;
We are now in the 6th Sunday of the Ordinary times. The 1st reading and the gospel is about leprosy, a deadly physical disease of the past and Jesus, Who is our true Healer. Leprosy is often referred to by many spiritual writers, as a metaphor of sin, which destroys the beauty, the cleanliness of our hearts, souls and minds.
We are all made clean, good and holy by Christ in Baptism. Take times this week to see what is making our hearts, minds, souls unclean and come to Jesus for healing. “Lord, make us clean”. That is our prayer for one another this week.
Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, will be on February 18th. Lent is very special time to prepare ourselves to commemorate and to celebrate the Paschal Mystery of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are asked to be personally and actively with our Lord Jesus on his journey to Calvary to suffer and to die for us.
In Canada, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and of abstinence from meat. Fridays are days of abstinence from meat, but Catholics may substitute special acts of charity or piety on this day. The law of abstinence from meat binds those who are 14 and older; the law of fasting binds those from 18 to 59 years of age.
The traditional practices of Lent are prayers, fasting, and works of mercy. The Station of the Cross is also a common and good devotion of the Church during Lent. I would like to invite everyone to come for this great devotion beginning with Soup & bunch at 6.00p.m. in the parish center and the station of the cross at 7.00p.m. in the church.
Please have a good Lenten plan for you & your family. Whatever you do for this Lent “do everything for the glory of God” (1Cor. 10:31).
Viet Nam, China and many countries in Asia will be celebrate the New Year, the Year of the Sheep or the Goat, on February 19th. My Mother and family in Viet Nam would like to wish all of you a blessed New Year, the Year of the Sheep.
Have a good week and a blessed Lenten season. Fr. Peter Hoan Nguyen.