Season of Lent
I write to you on behalf of the Provincial Council as we begin this Season of Lent. A special thanks to
Fr. Tim Kenney
for his efforts to help all of us prepare for the Season of Lent. Starting tomorrow, you will find several resources featured in Fr. Tim's section of
Notes
throughout Lent. Thank you, Tim!
As you all know, we continue to prepare for the release of the names of those Marianists who have been found to have sexually abused a minor since 1950. I think we can all agree that this is and will be a painful moment in our Province. Yet, it is the right thing to do!
On behalf of the Provincial Council, I’d like to situate our Lenten experience in the frame of our preparation for the release of names. We must remember that the Season of Lent is a time of repentance, a time of preparation for the Easter experience. Lent is a must to help us prepare. The Season of Lent has traditionally been a Season of Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. We must prepare ourselves Spiritually. As I did in August 2018, I once again call on the Province to an intense period of prayer, reflection and repentance. I encourage all members of the Province and Communities to join together to offer this Lent for those that have been hurt by the sin of abuse and for those of our Brothers who have perpetrated this hurt.
(
Please click here to re-read the letter sent to ministries from August 2018.)
The reminder of the sins of our past must call us to a greater fidelity to our vows today. We must be more committed to our vows, our ministry and our fraternal life in community. The community must be the place for support, affirmation and yes, even challenge. This is also a reminder to those communities who have not completed your study of the Revised Child Protection Procedures that the Season of Lent is the time to enter into this experience.
I invite you to enter into an intense time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving during this Lenten Season. Let’s pray for the final preparations for the release of names. Let us all pray for each of us that we may be ever more faithful to our vows as professed Marianist Religious.
As we draw closer to the release of names, we will keep you informed.
United In Prayer,
Rev. Oscar Vasquez, SM
Provincial
