Letter from the Director

As we begin the Lenten Season, let us remember what our Holy Father, Pope Francis said:

Lent is a journey toward the Risen Jesus; it is a period of repentance…, not as an end in itself, but rather aimed at enabling ourselves to rise with Christ, to renew our baptismal identity, that is, to be born anew “of the spirit”, by the love of God (cf. Jn 3:3-6). This is why Lent is, by nature, a time of hope.

A very special way to renew our baptismal identity is to bring the light of the Risen Christ to our brothers and sisters in need, and we need only look at the mission lands to find inspiring examples and opportunities to reach that encounter with our Risen Savior.

The Sisters at the St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus Home in Burkina Faso save the lives of orphaned and abandoned children, both physically and spiritually. They welcome and provide them with nutritious food, grown right there on a small farm. This year they are looking to expand production of food to enable them to help even more children. The Sisters also provide education and offer care in times of illness. Most importantly, though, the Sisters bring to these children the comforting presence of the Lord and the reminder that no one who suffers is ever abandoned by God. It is a message that all of us, in our own struggles, need to hear.

This Lent, will you join me on a journey of hope as we assist those serving in Burkina Faso and throughout the Missions, offering hope to those forgotten or lost, those abandoned or alone? A gift as small as $1 for each day of Lent – $40 in total – can help continue the efforts of these and other missionaries as they serve the suffering and the poor. And if you can give more, I invite you to do just that.

Together let us enter this Lenten Season with open hearts and joyfully begin our journey of hope.

- Reverend Monsignor Terrance L. Fleming
March 2019