A Note From Father Eickhoff

March 10, 2024

We are now at the half way point of Lent and it can sometimes seem that when we are spending our time during this season of penance pondering our faults and failures that our entire life becomes dark and dreary. When we focus so much of our time thinking of everything that we have done wrong it can become difficult to recall that we are not meant to be in darkness forever. It is for this reason that the Church gives us during the Season of Lent this special Sunday that is meant to be a light of hope on the horizon for us. We are meant to remember this day that Easter is coming soon and with it the forgiveness of our sins and the clearing away of all the grief and sorrow that our faults and failures have built up within us. The most visible sign of this special day is the rose-colored vestments that the clergy wear this day. However, the readings at today’s Mass also point this out. Consider the First Reading from the Second Book of Chronicles which describe the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the Israelite people. It certainly is saddening to listen to or to read. However, the passage ends with the future hope of the return of the exiles and the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. This peek of future hope after great despair is true for us as well.

I would like to point out that our Lenten preparations for Easter continue in the parish. If you have not yet taken the time this Lenten Season to prepare your soul and spirit to welcome the resurrection of our savior there is still time. I suggest taking the time in your busy daily and weekly schedule to pray. There is a wonderful opportunity to pray coming up later this week on Saturday, March 16 between 2pm and 5pm. St. Anne Parish will be holding a special afternoon of Eucharistic Adoration in the church on this day and time. During this time the church will be open for prayer, and we will have periods of silence, periods of reading from the writings of the saints, and periods of music. You can come to all or part of the afternoon of adoration. The Sacrament of Confession will also be available from 2.30pm to 4.30pm this day.

You can also join us for the Stations of the Cross held every Friday evening during Lent at 7pm here in the church.  This is another opportunity for prayer both for yourself and to join with your fellow parishioners in walking with our savior in spirit as He carried the cross for our salvation.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Stephen Eickhoff
Pastor