Preparing for Lent

by Fr. John Granato  |  02/15/2026  |  Words from Fr. John

My Dear Friends,

We are a couple days away from Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Ashes are a sacramental; sacramentals are supposed to lead us into the sacraments. For this reason, I offer ashes during the celebration of Mass instead of just a liturgy of the word service. Ashes are important, but nothing is more important than worshipping God and receiving his Son in the Holy Eucharist.

This Wednesday is also one of the two fasting days we have in our faith: the other one being Good Friday. Traditionally, Catholics fasted more days during Lent and during the year as a whole, and fasting was much more rigorous. We are also called to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent.

During this Lent, I will be offering a Scripture study on the Gospel of Matthew. We will meet on the Tuesdays of Lent at 6:00pm for about an hour at the social center in Harwinton. The only Tuesday we will not meet is March 17th, St. Patrick's Day, so we can enjoy a corned beef and cabbage dinner. I pray that you have a productive Lent and are able to grow spiritually in your daily penances offered for our Lord in union with his crucifixion.

God bless!