Lent begins on February 14, 2018 with the liturgical celebration of Ash Wednesday. Lent is our annual season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving; a time of sacrifice. As we are all aware, on-going meetings and discussions regarding a Ministry 2025 pastoral plan for all the Catholics of Carroll County has not yet found proper balance between all the competing issues and interests. Many have worked hard, and much progress has been made, yet we are not there yet.
Therefore, as your Pastor, I am asking the members of our 13 Catholic Churches in Carroll County to dedicate themselves this Lenten season to praying each day for wisdom and guidance as we move forward.
During this Lenten season, we implore the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us the gifts of wisdom, understanding, courage and hope.
May we exercise the virtue of prudence by opening our hearts and minds to be good stewards of the legacy of faith inherited from those who built the Church in Carroll County;
May we exercise the virtue of fortitude by opening our hearts and minds to understand and acknowledge the spiritual and practical realities of our day;
May we exercise the virtue of temperance by opening our hearts and minds to the changes in our parishes and personal life that the Holy Spirit is guiding us to make.
Under the protection of Our Lady of Guadalupe, our patroness and Saint Joseph, our patron, may we discern and implement what is best for all the faithful of the Carroll County and the Diocese of Sioux City.