Beginning Lent with Open Hearts at Saint Mary’s

“Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting in punishment.” (Joel 2:12‑13)

On Ash Wednesday, Saint Mary’s welcomed around 3,210 people to our campus to begin the sacred season of Lent. Families, students, and parishioners gathered to receive ashes, a profound reminder that this journey is not only about ritual, but about renewing our hearts and returning fully to God.

Lent invites us into a rhythm of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, echoing the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert, turning ever toward the Father. This year, the Church reflects on Pope Leo’s message, Listening and Fasting: Lent as a Time of Conversion, reminding us that Lent is a season to place the mystery of God back at the center of our lives, so that our hearts may be renewed and freed from the anxieties and distractions of daily life.

Pope Leo’s guidance calls us to:

• Listen: open our hearts to God’s Word and the needs of those around us.

• Fast: detach from what hinders our spiritual growth, seeking what truly nourishes our souls.

• Journey together: enter this holy season as a community, supporting one another in faith and love.

The ashes we wear are a sacred sign of humility, hope, and God’s enduring mercy. They remind us that Lent is not about outward show, but about inner transformation. As we walk this path together at Saint Mary’s, let us fast, pray, and return to the Lord with hearts fully surrendered, trusting in His steadfast love and compassion.

For more resources to guide your Lenten journey reflections, prayers, and ideas for fasting and almsgiving —visit mmog.church/lent.

May this Lent be a time of renewal, reflection, and joy, as we open our hearts to God and each other, preparing for the radiant glory of Easter.