Pastor’s Message – Church of Saint Benedict

February 20, 2026

Friday after Ash Wednesday

Grant, almighty God, through the yearly observances of holy Lent, that we may grow in understanding of the riches hidden in Christ and by worthy conduct pursue their effects. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

Collect of the Mass on the First Sunday of Lent

Brothers and Sisters,

At Mass on Ash Wednesday you may have heard the words, “Repent and believe in the Gospel” as you received the mark of the cross on your head. They echo the first words Jesus speaks in the Gospel of Mark. “The kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the good news” (Mark 1:14).

The ashes are a visible acknowledgement of our mortality and need of God’s mercy for our sins. We are to turn away from sin (repent) and to seek to be faithful to Jesus Christ as His Church. It is our on-going conversion.

Many things in life are inevitable, such as growing older with each passing day.  We have no choice in the matter. Christian conversion, however, is not inevitable. It is a choice to recognize the need for repentance and seek God’s mercy.

For the conversion to begin we must be first confronted with the reality of our sin. We must clearly see the damage it causes to ourselves, to others and our relationship with God. If we refuse to recognize the sin, then we see no need to repent. Conversion does not take place. In this case, ignorance is not bliss.

Repeatedly in the Gospels Jesus confronts the Pharisees and others for their hypocrisy. His desire is their repentance and conversion. St. Peter the Apostle is repeatedly confronted with his sin and lack of understanding. The goal is not to beat him down but to deepen his conversion. It is the same with us.

But with such a confrontation, conversion is not guaranteed. Pride, ego, fear, shame or indifference conspire against cooperating with God’s grace. This grace reveals sin and then offers us the path to repentance, conversion and salvation through the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus.

This path of conversion includes encountering God’s mercy by making a good confession during Lent. God desires not the death of sinners but that they be converted and live.

The Season of Lent challenges us not to harden our hearts to God’s grace. Our Lenten fasting, penance and works of mercy are to open our hearts to be more receptive of the words of our Savior, “Repent and believe in the Gospel”.

Lenten Mass & Stations of the Cross

Our parish practices on the Fridays of Lent include the devotion of the Stations of the Cross in the church at 6:00pm, followed by the meatless meal in McGuire Hall. All are welcome.

During Lent we have an additional daily Mass on Thursdays at 6:30am. The rest of our daily Mass schedule remains the same.

A parish practice at Sunday Mass during Lent is that many of the responses are sung in Latin. There are laminated cards in the pews to assist you.

Our Parish

As a Lenten practice of charity I ask you to invite at least person you know who has not been active in the faith or who has no church home to come with you to Sunday Mass, Stations of the Cross, Adoration, etc. To quote St. Benedict our patron, “Let all be welcomed as Christ”.

Those who are preparing to be received into the Church at the Easter Vigil will be participating in the Rite of Election with Bishop Konderla this Sunday at Holy Family Cathedral. Prior to this they will receive a blessing at our Noon Mass. Please keep them in your prayers.

Thank you to those who made or renewed a pledge in support of the Faith & Works Annual Appeal last weekend. If you have not yet done so you are welcome to place your pledge envelope in the regular collection at Mass this weekend. Pledges can also be made online at www.dioceseoftulsa.org/annualappeal. Thank you for your generosity.

God bless and keep you safe.

Fr. Bryan