The Lenten journey is similar to a tripod.  It rests on three legs: prayer, fasting, and acts of charity.  These three are, as we heard on Ash Wednesday part of a communal event.  We are called as a universal Church to make this forty-day journey together as a community of faith. 

“But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter;  And all of us are the work of Your hand.”  (Is. 64:8) As we gather to begin our Lenten journey, you are asked to take a piece of clay from the blocks of clay to remind us of that fact that we are all made in the image of God and we are as clay in the hands of God, the potter. 

As Catholics we begin the season of Lent this Wednesday February 14th.  Yes, I know it is Valentine’s Day.  I am sure that many of you have looked ahead and Easter falls on April 1st; affectionately known as April Fool’s Day, but don’t be fooled, we believe Jesus rose from the dead!  There will be three opportunities for receiving ashes on Wednesday: 9:00 A.M. Mass, 3:00 Liturgy of the Word, and 7:30 P.M. Mass.  I am hoping one of those times fits into your schedule and we can begin our communal season of fasting, prayer and charity on the journey of spiritual growth and formation.