Beginning Again: Renewal During Lent and Through the Rite of Election

“You are dust, and to dust you shall return”

Today, Ash Wednesday, marks the beginning of our Lenten journey, a sacred season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that calls us to renewal of heart. As ashes are placed upon our foreheads today, we hear of these 2 formulas: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” or “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” These simple yet powerful words remind us of both our human frailty and God’s boundless mercy. 

Please click on the following links to watch Bishop da Cunha’s Lenten messages in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. 

While Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation, it is not merely a ritual. This day, marking the beginning of the 40-day journey, is an invitation. It is an opportunity to turn away from sin, to draw closer to Christ, and to begin again. In receiving ashes, we publicly express our desire for conversion, trusting that through sacrifice and grace, we will be led toward the joy of Easter and the resurrection!

The Rite of Election and the Growth of the Church in Our Diocese

Among many highlights of the year is the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion. This Sunday, from 3 to 4 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral, I will have the joy of presiding over the celebrations of these rites at St. Mary’s Cathedral for the many men and women from across our Diocese who are preparing to be fully initiated into the Catholic Church.

Each year on the First Sunday of Lent, this sacred moment reveals the beautiful growth taking place within our Diocese, as catechumens publicly express their desire for Baptism and discipleship, and candidates commit themselves more deeply to Christ. The Rite is a powerful reminder that the Gospel message is not confined to the past, rather it is alive and active today, continuing to call hearts to conversion, renewal, and hope. Each year, as I witness these individuals take this profound step in their faith journey, I am reminded of the enduring presence  of the Holy Spirit at work among us, strengthening the Church and inviting each of us to ongoing conversion. Please pray for the catechumens and candidates of our Diocese.

Sincerely,

Bishop da Cunha