Praise the Lord! The first seven days of our OLHOC Lenten Journey have gone very well and brought much JOY! (I am writing this column on Tuesday). This is the JOY OF HEAVEN ON EARTH, a Joy that no one can take away from us: GOD never changes. We are the ones changing. GOD KEEPS LOVING US. HIS LOVE LASTS FOREVER. GOD NEVER ABANDONS US. He wants us to find the PEACE OF HEAV- EN while we are still on earth. With God everything is possible. Trust in His Love and DO His WILL!

ASH WEDNESDAY WAS truly HEAVEN ON EARTH! There was an AMAZING number of people (above 1,200) who came to attend the four Masses and receive ASHES on their foreheads. Receiving the ashes, everyone could hear God's command: "REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL!". When I imposed the ashes, I looked at each person intently in the eyes while emphasizing the three powerful words: REPENT, BELIEVE GOSPEL! These three words can become a perfect framework for a Lenten preparation of the TRIDUUM: Last Supper, Passion-Death, and RESURRECTION! We repent by turning toward God... forgiving those who have sinned against us and asking God to forgive our sins. Then we focus on our belief in the Good News of the Gospel, includ- ing our salvation by the Power of the CROSS: Jesus dies for us and rises for us so as to conquer DEATH and give us eternal LIFE, which begins on earth right here right now. This is the Good News of Easter: the Tree of Death becomes the Tree of Life. The Cross transforms us and give us HOPE in ETERNAL LIFE.

OUR LENTEN MISSION and PENANCE SERVICE on Monday was also HEAVEN ON EARTH. You could sense the Joy of people eating together (close to 130) at the 20 round tables in the Father Martin Hall, and then discussing the questions asked by Fr. Jan. Yes, a sense of sharing, a sense of Fellowship, a sense of Communion. There was much energy in the Father Martin Hall: The HOLY SPIRIT AT WORK! LENT is a time to REPENT!
Then, we all met in the Church where the Blessed Sacrament was exposed and ten priests (two could not come at the last minute) were ready to hear confessions. The chosen Gospel was that of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). We are all invited to keep reflecting on who is our neighbor and how we often fail to love our neighbor as Jesus loves us. As Mother of Calcutta said we can truly see JESUS in everyone we serve. To love our neighbor is to see Jesus in everyone we encounter. Jesus ,disguised in those in need, then fills us with HIS LOVE.

JESUS says to all of us: COME TO ME ALL YOU who are weary and burdened , and I WILL GIVE YOU REST ( Matthew 11:28).  As we come forward to reach out to JESUS disguised in the poor, HE GIVES US REST! HE GIVES US PEACE! This encounter with Jesus is truly HEAVEN ON EARTH! The Confessional is Heaven on earth: an encounter with Jesus. Go often to Confession. You will receive so many graces: conversion, forgiveness of all your sins, and much GRACE from the HOLY SPIRIT. It was such a JOY to have so many people reconciling with God : several of the priests heard confessions for over two hours non-stop. Keep going to Confession regularly!

May GOD keep blessing us during this Joyful Climbing of the Mountain with Jesus for 40 days ! May JESUS grant us now this anticipated JOY of HIS COMING RESURRECTION!

One in Christ,

Father Alain