Dear Parents, Guardians, and Friends,
Today, the Catholic Church around the world observes Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Lenten Season. St. Joseph School students, faculty and staff participated this morning in Mass and their foreheads were marked with ashes. Father Gregory explained in his homily the meaning and importance of Ash Wednesday in preparation for Lent but your children may still have questions.
Students also received ashes to take home and may want to mark your forehead. With this symbolic gesture we mark the beginning of the Lenten journey towards the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. It is a time of preparation, a time of penance, internal conversion, prayer and almsgiving.
Our goal is to instill in our students timeless character values such as love, truth, fidelity, altruism, and charity. Based on what’s happening in the world, daily news, and the Hollywood actions, these values may seem like they are disappearing. It is our duty and obligation to protect these essential values and pass them on to our children, even if mainstream society and media direct us to do the opposite.
To make these values a foundation of our life, we take the Lenten season seriously, because it gives us opportunity to give back to God who is the source of all goodness and love. It is a time to move inward, to reflect on our journey of life and admit that many times we have not lived up to these values. It is a time to accept our sinfulness and our lack of faith.
The ashes we place on our forehead symbolize our need to make a change in our lives; our longing for something which is not limited by time, and human frailty, and to embrace in our hearts our Lord Jesus as our Savior.
During Lent we recognize that we are not masters of our own lives; in fact, we are not even in control of our own destiny. We acknowledge our human frailty, immortality, and human limitations. We realize that all the world’s resources, power, prestige, and material goods have no value at the end of our life.
You could help your child experience the true meaning of Lent by following these few examples:
- Make reading Scripture with your child a habit – at least once a week;
- Pray the rosary with your child asking for blessings on your family and loved ones;
- Participate in devotions and especially in Masses on Sundays
- Explain to your child and do acts of penance and personal sacrifices;
- Practice almsgiving. Be an example to your child of caring for the church and those less fortunate;
- Perform good deeds.
By following these suggestions you will take an active role in helping your child to live fulfilling lives as young men and women.
Msgr. Anthony Czarnecki,
Headmaster of St. Joseph School
