My Dear Friends,

This Monday March 6 will be start Lent which marks the first day of Lent. As many of you are aware, Lent is a time when we contemplate the Passion that Our Lord went through in order to redeem us from hell and give us the opportunity to be with Him in Heaven forever after this life.

Therefore, we owe our lives and our very souls to Our Lord. As we each are responsible for sending Our Lord to His Death because of our sins, we must do penance (i.e., make reparation for our sins) if we want to be children of God.

Penance is the exact focus during the season of Lent. Therefore, we must be up to the challenge to do the following during Lent (which ends on Easter Sunday):

1. Give up at least one thing that we truly enjoy. Giving up a sinful habit does not count as we must never sin.

2. Fast from food and abstain on Good Friday during Lent.

3. Do a complete examination of conscience and then go to confession.

The goal is to root out our sinful habits and ask God to increase in us the virtues.

Here is a good link to help you with your examination of conscience and confession: www.fisheaters.com/penance.html

Here is a good link to help explain the requirements for fasting and abstinence (look under the "Definitions" section): www.fisheaters.com/fasting.html

May God bless you all this Lenten season.
Yours in Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
Yosief