FATHER MARC ALEXANDER

Lent and the Road Map

Lent is a special time of year for Christians, an opportunity for a kind of spiritual checkup. Through practices such as fasting, abstinence from meat, additional attention to prayer, alms giving, heightened awareness and service of the poor, we “shake up” our normal way of thinking and doing just enough to cause us to pause and reflect. In the craziness of daily life, it is easy for all of us to lose track of what is most important and life-giving, to get caught up in the inertia of producing, performing, and competing. These six weeks of Lent are a gift that can help us to slow down just enough to see where we are, where we are going, and whether we really like what we see.

As Christians we enjoy an incredible freedom in taking such a look. Why? Because we “know” that God is gracious and merciful, desiring only our happiness and well being. We “know” that Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man, has been sent to bring us redemption through the forgiveness of our sins and the blood of the cross. At times it may be difficult for us to “feel” God’s unconditional love as we face our own weaknesses and hurts. But through our celebration of the sacraments, engagement of the Word of God, and quiet prayer/conversation with God, we are touched and caressed by Love.

This season also provides an excellent opportunity for us to step back and take a look at our parish and diocesan communities. Just as on a personal level we need an occasional spiritual checkup, so also do our communities. Just over two years ago Bishop Larry unveiled our diocesan strategic plan, Witness to Jesus: Diocesan Road Map for Pastoral, Program, and Facility Needs 2008-2013, affectionately known simply as the Road Map. The six priorities of leadership development, youth and young adults, faith formation, homelessness, repair and maintenance of facilities, and land asset management have kept all of us busy with measurable progress. The very successful diocesan capital campaign, “With Grateful Hearts,” promises to give our parishes and diocese further resources needed to implement the Road Map. Without a doubt, all of us are quite grateful to God for these wonderful blessings! Such a context of blessing gives us confidence to be able to stop and take a look at our parish and diocesan communities and ask the same questions we ask of ourselves personally, such as where are we, where are we going, and do we like what we see?

On any journey we need to check where we are in respect to our destination. Our Road Map journey is no different. Last year, for example, parishes were asked to focus on their top two or three priorities from the Road Map’s six priorities. They were asked to identify concrete actions that could be taken to make visible progress in addressing those top priorities and the resources needed to make that happen. As an example, one parish identified youth and young adults, homelessness, and repair and maintenance of facilities as their top three priorities. In respect to youth and young adults, they decided that a monthly Mass planned and ministered by the youth and young adults of the parish would be one of their action steps. The resources needed included training of the youth and young adults in appropriate music selection and as lectors. One of the desired outcomes included more youth and young adult attendance at Sunday Mass. Stepping back after a year, that parish might reasonably ask itself whether there has been measurable success, e.g., are more youth and young adults attending Mass and becoming lectors? Unless we take time to check our “bearings” and get a “GPS reading,” we won’t know whether we’re on the right track. Plus, it’s great to celebrate milestones reached and progress made.

Enjoy the gift of Lent. Take time to stop, look, and listen … and then we celebrate!