On Monday of the first week of Lent, the Gospel for the Mass of that day was Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus speaks of the final judgement at the end of time. He states that those who are to share in the joys of eternal life are the ones who recognize Christ in the hungry, the thirsty, those without adequate clothing, the homeless, the sick and those in prison, AND tend to their needs. Of course, we can respond (and hopefully are responding) to the needs of the first ones (the hungry, thirsty, etc.) in person or through our financial gifts to local agencies (and in Lent Catholic Relief Services-(Operation Rice Bowl). What about, however, visiting those in person? Unless you have a relative in a prison or are approved and go through the training to be allowed in to minister to prisoners on an ongoing basis, our options are few if any for visiting those in prison. That's where our support of the KAIROS prison ministry can fulfill Jesus's call to care about and for those who are imprisoned as if it were Jesus himself. Once we have come to the point (through God's grace) to have a merciful and Christ-like love for those in prison (as Pope Francis in his life and papacy has shown that he does) then we can visit and care for the imprisoned in a number of ways, including KAIROS. Briefly, KAIROS is an offshoot of the Cursillo spiritual movement that provides selected prisoners in a correctional institution the opportunity to participate in a Thursday through Sunday experience led by lay people who are trained to give spiritual talks, encourage discussion by these prisoners and be instruments of bringing (or strengthening) a relationship with Jesus Christ and a readiness to live as a faith-filled disciple of Christ in prison and whereever their life takes them. We are blessed to have Pietro Tomassi of our parish as one who is a presenter at these KAIROS weekends (which happen twice a year in March and September in the Ouachita River Unit in Malvern, Arkansas). Not only can these weekends be a life altering experience for all who participate (and graduate after the weekend ends) but there is opportunity for the participants to receive ongoing speiritual support from people like Pietro, and from each other through monthly evening "Pray and Share" meetings. Our social justice and charitable outreach commission has heard a longer and more complete presentation of KAIROS from Pietro, and has recommended (and I have agreed) for our parish to support the KAIROS ministry and, thusly, give us all the opportunity to "visit those in prison" with love, mercy and care in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

As the ladies were putting out the Lenten decor on the altar and in the Narthex this morning (Fat Tuesday) in anticipation of Ash Wednesday and the lenten season, I found myself looking ahead to the last days of this season of "growth in the Lord" and considering what is done in some Catholic churches starting on the 5th Sunday of Lent (March 26). The covering of crosses (until after the Good Friday liturgy and images (statues) until the beginning of the Easter Vigil turns our attention and reflection squarely to Jesus' passion, death, and resurrection which will be observed in its fullness in the Easter Triduum liturgy which begins on Holy Thursday evening and ends on Easter Sunday evening. More on the importance of full participation in the Triduum will come in future pastor's columns.Obviously, we still have our lenten experiences and journey right in front of us that will prepare us for the Triduum and the joyful 50 day Easter Season. Last weekend's column covered practices and prayers we can do on our own and in community to  make the lenten season special and helpful to us and others. Today I would like to add something else for us to consider doing at least until the 5th Sunday of Lent (when we cover up our images). I am suggesting that each of us choose a saint and reflect on the life of that saint throughout the lenten season and pray that we more and more imitate that saint in the virtues and actions that led them to be declared a saint. I recently watched a one hour documentary on St Pio of Pietrelcina. In light of my mom's recent physical suffering due to sickness and my mental anguish in seeing her suffer, I was reminded of how St Pio accepted and welcomed his physical suffering due to chronic sickness and the stigmata (wounds of Christ that he endured in his hands, feet and side for 50 years) and felt himself in union with Christ in his suffering. He endured it in patience and for whatever good would bless others from it (just as Christ's suffering was for the good of all humanity in redeeming and saving us)! I pray that reflection on Padre Pio's devotion to and hours up hours in the Coinfessional, will lead me to be a better instrument of God's mercy and help to those who come humbly and sincerely to the Sacrament of REconciliation during the Lenten season. I hope you will consider a saint either a priest, religious or a married one and read about and ponder their lives in the Lord and ask theri intercession for you to folow their example of imitating the Lord in thought, word, and deed! Starting and/or continuing such a lenten practice will surely make the Easter Season and our present and future lives filled with the joy and peace of the lord and lead us to anticipate, as the saints did, our eternal life with the Lord in heaven!

I'm sure all of us, at one time or another, have used the phrase "more or less..." As we are on the doorstep of entering the Lenten Season (which starts this Wednesday), I would say that this is a season of more AND less. Firstly, we are called to LESS or at least to lessen our time doing some "eartly things" such as eating or watching television, or of entering into conversation that too easily gets into the "business" of others. Our focus, as well as our time, talents and treasure should be MORE in the ways of the Lord. In the areas of our prayer life, we can all do more on our own and at home with our "little book" (which you will receive this weekend) or by praying a daily rosary and/or chaplet of divine mercy, or some other spiritual practice that you are already doing and increase in one way or another. Some or all of these can be done before Jesus, present in the Monstrance in our chapel, at a time that works for you, day or evening. This is an excellent time of the year to try out a Holy Hour that is scheduled once a week (committing for the seven weeks of Lent and deciding after Lent to keep it going during the 7 week Easter Season and maybe beyond). There is also weekday Mass which you might consider attending at least once a week throughout Lent. As usual, the Wednesday 5:00 Mass will be followed by a light supper and a 20 - 30 minute video series, "This is Our Faith" (Michael Crumble). I hope more than a few of you will participate in our 5 week study on the Eucharist in Sacred Scripture that is being offered three different times (morning, afternoon, and evening) on Thursdays. After doing the reading and reflections on those readings each week, you will join with others in sharing and/or listening to others reflections and grow in knowledge and in your relationship with the Lord. Please consider joining in some or all of our Stations of the Cross prayer opportunities on the Fridays of Lent. The first two will happen at 4:30 p.m. (February 24 and March 3) and the next 4 (March 10, 17, 24, and 31) at 6:00 p.m. The later times consider the reality of more daylight and will better accommodate those who are still working outside or inside the home. Finally, in addition to choosing acts of charity or committing some of your time and talents to our Helping Hands Ministry (call Cathy Wedwick at 501-915-8456 or Pat Widlowski at 501-922-1395) which assists parishioners whose needs vary from person to person, I hope everyone will participate in "Operation Rice Bowl" by taking a bowl with written materials that help us to appreciate and sympathize with needy people who are poor or who are recovering from a natural disaster. They will also benefit from our prayers and the money we save up and give at the end of Lent which will go (mostly) to "Catholic Relief Services" which assists people all over the world. Some (one fourth) will go to Catholic Charities of Arkansas to assist people closer to home. The opportunities to make this coming season of Lent a great blessing to us and in most cases to the others are these and others. The key is to choose some and be consistent throughout this relatively short season of the year. It has the potential (and even purpose) of making our Easter Season (a time of rejoicing in Jesus' Resurrection) our best one ever and a source of blessing for the rest of the year and, even, the rest of our lives!