In previous years, the Secretariat’s Lenten reflection would be a coming together in prayer and fellowship. With so many restrictions in place, and I will add for a good reason, this Lenten season, like all other moments in our lives this past year, had to be different. We hoped when we did our Virtual Advent Reflection in December 2020 that by Lent, we would be able to gather. Not wanting to leave anyone out, we went the route of virtual.

On Friday, March 19, 2021, Our Lenten Reflection premiered on our YouTube channel.  Being that this is the Year of St. Joseph and we purposefully premiered on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, and our theme was “St. Joseph In the Shadow of the Cross.”

Very little is mentioned of St. Joseph in the bible, but no one can deny how important he is and what an important role he played in the life of Jesus Christ. He was a religious and humble man, who like Mary, did not question God’s will, and accept Mary as his wife. With that acceptance, he became a husband and a father. A father to no ordinary child, but a child who would bring salvation to the world.

With the thought of the different languages in our diocese, the stations of the cross and the reflections were a snapshot of our diversity. Bishop Raymond Chappetto’s reflection was in English, Bishop Octavio Cisneros in Spanish, Bishop Witold Mroziewski in Polish, Fr. Peter Bai in Chinese Mandarin, Fr. Cosmas Nzeabalu in Igbo, and Msgr. Joseph Malagreca in Haitian Creole.

Bishop Gregor Mansour’s reflection was in English, but he gave another layer of perspective from the Marion Rite. We hope that you take the opportunity to look into the Marion Rite and see how our similarities and difference still unite us.

Bishop Raymond reflects on the life of St. Joseph: Joseph was a happy man who loved Jesus and Mary so much. He loved with his whole heart. Joseph gives Jesus an example of fatherly love and compassion. Joseph speaks by his actions, not his words. Joseph teaches the church how to depend on God’s love and will.