Letter from the Pastor
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March 13, 2022Traditionally there are three disciplines of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The tripod of our Lenten spiritual life helps us to develop our relationship with God; it helps to correct our faults and helps us to become more charitable.
Last week, we looked at the discipline of fasting, and how fasting helps us to control the desires of our bodies, join our sufferings to the suffering Christ, and help us identify with the sufferings of our fellow human beings.
This week let us reflect on almsgiving. The Catechism of the Catholic Church considers almsgiving "a witness to fraternal charity" and "a work of justice pleasing to God" (No. 2462).
Almsgiving is an act of fraternal love and concern by donating money, goods, or services to the poor or performing other acts of charity for all. The word “alms” mean “mercy, pity”.
Charity (=love) or almsgiving is an outward sign of Christian love for others. Generally, it involves some type of sacrifice on behalf of the giver in order to provide for the needs of others. Giving alms is essential to fostering a deep spiritual life because it allows us to step outside of ourselves and focus on others.
Almsgiving is more than simply giving money, which sometimes is the easiest thing to do. Almsgiving is an act of love, which necessarily means sacrifice for someone else. It is the giving away of goods, be it money, or objects, be it time or talents. We give these things away for the sake of those who need it more than we do. It prompts important questions: Do I really need this? Am I consuming too much? Almsgiving provides us with a human connection and the opportunity to see the impact that works of charity can have on others.
An important aspect is also the giving away of our time and our talent. To volunteer your time, to share your gifts with others is more important at times, than giving money.
Charitable giving is an ancient practice that is customary in many cultures and religions. As Christians, we are called to follow in the example of Christ who showed great compassion to those in need of His time and gifts.
So this Lent reflect and pray: what can I share with those in need, is there a neighbor or a family member who I can help, is there a group of people I can volunteer my time or talent? Have I thought about sharing my gifts of time and talent to the Church or the parish as a Reader at Mass, or bringing the Blessed Sacrament to the homebound, or help welcoming parishioners to Church as an usher?
Almsgiving is not reserved for the adults; our teenagers are most welcomed to volunteer. Those who have been confirmed are as adult in the Church as a 60 year old. You too can be readers, or ushers, or Mass servers.
Talking about Altar Servers, we are hoping to re-instate our altar servers on Palm Sunday. It has been two long years without them, and we missed our young people serving Mass. So, if you were an Altar Server, or if you wish to become one and make a real commitment to God and His Altar, keep watching the bulletin for more information. Fr. Clarke will be contacting you.I am also happy to announce we will once again this year have our Annual Parish Solemn Mass in honor of St. Patrick on March 17th at 9:00 AM with hospitality afterwards in Toner Hall.
St. Patrick is the Patron Saint of the Archdiocese of NY.
Next week, we will look at our prayer life.