Bishop Larry J. Kulick: Lenten Message

It’s hard to believe that just a few short weeks ago we packed away the Christmas decorations for another year, and now our hearts and minds turn toward the season of Lent. Very soon, Ash Wednesday will be upon us, when we are invited with the imposition of ashes to “Repent and believe in the Gospel” (Mark 1:15). As the ashes are placed in the sign of the cross on our foreheads, we symbolically show our penance, mourning and our own mortality.

Lent also calls us to think about the ways we can embrace the lenten disciplines of fasting, almsgiving and, most importantly, prayer. This can be a most rewarding time in our faith lives as we prepare for the commemoration of the death and the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord.

One of the important ways we can prepare during Lent for the Easter season is through reflection on sacred Scripture. In exercising my ministry, I have always made it a priority to travel beyond the bounds of the Pastoral Center and join with the faithful for worship, catechesis and evangelization.

When I became Bishop two years ago, I began the tradition of “Evenings of Lenten Reflections” across the Diocese of Greensburg. I am delighted to continue these Lenten Reflections for a third time by traveling to parishes across our four counties and offering parishioners an evening of prayer and reflection based on
the Scriptures of that week.

The theme of each reflection is different. You are invited to attend one, a couple or all. If you can’t attend in person, each reflection will be available on the Diocesan social media channels and the Eucharistic Revival page on the Diocesan website
for virtual participation following the live event.

As we continue our three-year Eucharistic Revival, I am asking you to make prayer and intentional discipleship an important part of your Lenten discipline. For those of you who are able to attend one of these Lenten Reflections, I will have a special gift for you—a Lenten pin that is a symbol of our unity as we walk as disciples of
Christ during the 40 days of Lent.

Spiritually, for me, preparing each of these reflections is a great joy. It allows me to connect in a tangible way with our Diocesan Church by interacting with numerous of the faithful in parishes across the four counties.

It is my hope that I will see you at one or all of these Lenten Reflections as we prepare together for the glory of Easter.

The Most Reverend
Larry J. Kulick, J.C.L.
Bishop of Greensburg