As we begin the liturgical season of Lent,

let us be reminded of the Church's invitation for us

"to turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel."

May our acts of penance, meditation & ascetism 

prime God's grace more fully into our lives

 and make us more deeply grounded

in our embracing the poor, the suffering and the needy

in our midst! 

GOD'S BLESSINGS ON US ALL!

GOD AS THE CENTER OF OUR LIVES

COILED SHOOT OF A GIANT ANCIENT FERN

"What you get by achieving your goal is not as important

as what you become by achieving your goals" 
-Goethe-

ALL EMBRACING GOD, 
THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER
THAT WHATEVER I HOLD AT THE CENTER OF MY LIFE

CAN HAVE THE POWER TO INFLUENCE 
AS TO WHOM I MAY BECOME.

LORD, I IMPLORE YOU TO DIRECT NOT MY FOCUS
ON MY FALTERING SENSE OF SOLITARY SELF, 
ON MY RELIANCE ON FALSE POWER AND SECURITY
AND ON MY ATTENTION TO FLEETING HAPPINESS.

RATHER, SET MY HEART ON FIRE WITH LOVE FOR YOU
AND FOR YOUR MYSTICAL PRESENCE 
 DEEPLY PLANTED IN MY HEART
AND IN ALL OF LIFE.

YOU HAVE CONSTANTLY STIRRED LIFE IN ME;

NEVER STOP TO SEIZE ME WITH YOUR CARESSES.
CONSTANTLY SURPRISE ME 
AND KEEP ME IN AWE AND WONDER
AS YOU DRAW ME CLOSER TO YOU.

EVER LOVING GOD,

KEEP MY HEART EVER VIGILANT AND GRATEFUL

AND SO THAT I CAN ALWAYS 
RECOGNIZE & CELEBRATE 
IN EACH MOMENT OF MY AWARENESS
YOUR EVER UNFOLDING SELF-REVELATION
DAWNING INSIDE OF ME AND IN ALL OF CREATION.

O, GOD-WHO-IS-WITH-US,
BLESS ME IN MY UNDYING DESIRE 

TO MAKE YOU THE CENTER OF MY LIFE!

TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF PRAYER

"To pray is to enter into a relationship with God

and to have that relationship make a difference in my life"

-  KENNETH LEECH -

THE CORE OF CHRISTIAN PRAYER

"Establishing and developing a relationship 

is the nucleus of all Christian Prayer. 

This bond is created with Someone, 

and that Someone is God.  

Our Source of Life continually bids each of us into a loving union. 

The process of prayer unfolds in a way similar to Jesus' inviting his disciples to follow him into a deeper friendship, 

a closeness that did not develop instantly. 

 Prayer is a kind of companionship 

that develops step by step,

 as we are drawn into an ever expanding oneness of love.

"Prayer" is not only about entering into a relationship with God; 

it is also about being changed. 

Healthy prayer strengthens our bond with the Creator 

and it also transforms us. 

Every encounter with God provides the opportunity for us to grow spiritually. 

Prayer makes a difference in our life 

because it nudges and persuades us to develop Christ like qualities 

in our attitudes and actions. 

Through prayer we become more loving, gracious,

 compassionate, and justice-oriented beings. 

When this happen, 

we are altered in a positive way 

and the world we touch is also changed for the better." 

- Joyce Rupp, Prayer -

MAY WE ALWAYS BE DOCILE AND WILLING 

TO BE SEIZED BY OUR LOVING GOD 

WHO CONTINUALLY DRAW US CLOSER 

TO GOD'S EVER EXPANDING ONENESSS OF LOVE!