My Dearly Beloved in Christ;

We are very near now to that time which is for us a new beginning, the commencement of the Blessed Passover in which the Lord was sacrificed. Starting from this day on which we celebrate Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, the Church recalls the entrance of Christ the Lord into Jerusalem to accomplish His Paschal Mystery. This event of the Triumphant Entry of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, serves as the gateway to the High points of the Liturgical year which we celebrate in the Holy week.

A friend of mine wrote an imaginative reflection on the raising of Lazarus that caught me off guard. She proposed that when Jesus called Lazarus from the tomb, the man was not joyful but angry and annoyed. After so much suffering, maybe death felt like a release. He had finally escaped the pain. And then, suddenly, Jesus' voice cuts through the silence: "Lazarus, come out!" (John 11:43) The light stings his eyes. The pain returns. And now he is dragged back into a world that had broken him.

Dear Parishioners of the Blessed Sacrament and Visitors,

Today marks the fourth Sunday of Lent, traditionally known as Laetare Sunday, or the Sunday of Rejoicing. Rightly so, in the opening antiphon of the liturgy of this Sunday, the church proclaims, "Rejoice, Jerusalem, and be joyful, all who are in mourning."

Fellow parishioners of Blessed Sacrament and Visitors,

We are already in the third Sunday of Lent, and time is flying by quickly. Before we know it, Easter will be here. If you started off slowly in fully embracing this season, it's time to roll up your sleeves and recommit yourself to your Lenten resolutions.

Dear parishioners and visitors,

About two weeks ago, we embarked on our annual Lenten journey. As we are still at the beginning of this season, I would like to take a moment to explain the nature of Lent. The six weeks of this sacred season are divided into three parts. The first three weeks focus on penance and conversion, which is why we begin the season on Ash Wednesday with a call to repentance: "Repent and believe in the Gospel." The fourth week emphasizes hope in the mercy of God. For this reason, the faithful are called to rejoice in anticipation of God's mercy.

On this First Sunday in Lent, we hear again what is probably the best-known story from the Old Testament, the fall of Adam and Eve in the Book of Genesis. While it's certainly a well-known story, even from our childhood, it's also one of the most puzzling for many people: "how could eating a forbidden apple be the cause of such dire consequences for all of mankind?" Actually, the story conveys a very profound lesson, but it was presented in a way that is not very familiar to us, so many of us miss the point.

Excerpt from Vatican News, January 16, 2026, by Fr. Marek Weresa Year of Saint Francis: 'Indulgence is an encounter with God, not a spiritual shortcut' The Regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary comments on the decree published on Friday announcing plenary indulgences during the special Jubilee Year proclaimed by Pope Leo XIV on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the Saint's death, stressing. "The Year of Saint Francis must not become yet another chapter rich in special spiritual effects, but a silent passage from enthusiasm to deep maturity, from spectacular celebration to imitation in daily life."

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) No. 73 states that "It is praiseworthy for the bread and wine to be presented by the faithful." This means that having members of the worshiping assembly bring forward the gifts of bread and wine is encouraged, though not strictly required.

In line with this sacred practice, representatives from the assembly in many churches—usually a married couple, a family, or a group of individualsbring the bread and wine down the central aisle during the offertory and present them to the priest.