Parish Stewardship and Lent Reconciliation

Dear Epiphany Family, 

I hope you have had some time to read, reflect, and pray with the parish stewardship directory about how God is calling you to share your gifts with our parish and beyond. There are many ways to be involved and help breathe new life into our ministries, parish, and community. It may sound cliche, but Jesus invites us to be His hands and feet to others around us. Our parish family can only be as strong as its members are, especially in joining together in prayer, service, and fellowship. Please open your heart and have the courage to say “yes” to whatever the Lord is calling you to. 

Lent is almost upon us. It is always a great opportunity for us to renew our relationship with Jesus, allow Him to convert, heal, and change us. I hope you have taken the time to reflect on what practices might help draw you closer to Him. One practice I think all of us can benefit from is having more silence in our lives, so that the Lord can better speak to our hearts. Our world and our lives are filled with so much noise, busy-ness, and activity. Silent time gives us a chance to place ourselves before the Lord, examine where we are in our relationship with Him, and allows His light and peace to strengthen us. Do not be afraid to make room and allow Him to reign. 

Lent is also a time when people often consider returning to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is such a beautiful and powerful sacrament of healing, peace, and strength. It is one of the greatest and most humbling privileges I have as a priest to hear confessions and experience others’ desire to amend their lives and receive forgiveness and healing. It is a beautiful blessing to walk others closer to our Merciful Father and impart the great riches of His mercy, which overflows for us through the passion and resurrection of Jesus. I am happy to be able to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation more often, beginning next Sunday, the first Sunday of Lent – 8:30-9:15am (before 9:30 Mass, Genesee St. campus). This is in addition to our Wednesday evening confessions – 5-5:45pm during Lent (normally 5:30-5:45) at our White St. campus (before 6pm Mass), Thursday and Friday morning confessions – 8-8:20am at our Genesee St. campus (before 8:30 Mass), and Saturday confessions – 3-3:45pm before 4pm Mass (White St. campus). Come and experience Jesus’ great mercy. 

In Christ, 
Father Eric