The season of our Lenten renewal is upon us. On Ash Wednesday, we were marked with ashes and exhorted to repent and believe the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These 40 days are a journey of faith and conversion leading to a renewal of our baptismal commitment at Easter, or for those who are journeying as catechumens or candidates, this season leads to the celebration of the Easter sacraments with us for the first time.
Lent is a time to experience again the Good News that God loves us, that he sent his Son Jesus to suffer and die for us, that he has conquered sin by his victory over death and that he has given us a share in his life by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit into our hearts.
We are his beloved sons and daughters. Jesus, Our Lord, has gone before us to prepare a place for us in the Father’s house. We are heirs to a heavenly kingdom that we are called to help advance now through the works of charity, justice and mercy.
I pray that each of us – each member of the faithful, each household, each parish – will find a fruitful path shaped by the traditional threefold disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving during these holy days.
As we begin this season of Lent, I want to propose a few additional resources to help foster not only personal conversion, but also renewal within our homes, parishes, schools and catechetical programs and discipleship groups of whatever sort.
Last year, as a foundational piece of our archdiocesan pastoral planning process, I published a pastoral letter called “Go Make Disciples! Building a Culture of Conversion and Discipleship for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.” The pastoral letter is an extended reflection on the Parable of the Sower that we find in Matthew 13.
It invites us to consider that the fruitfulness of the harvest depends on the quality of the soil. It invites us to cultivate good soil and remove the obstacles from our hearts and our communities that prevent God’s word from bearing good fruit within us. This is an essential step in building a culture of conversion and missionary discipleship as we prepare for a new Pentecost and advance a new evangelization for the renewal of the Church in Oklahoma.
I have asked our priests and deacons to help encourage all of the faithful of the archdiocese to read and study the pastoral letter, “Go Make Disciples! Building a Culture of Conversion and Discipleship” during Lent. Our staff recently has completed two study guides (others are forthcoming) to help individuals, families and small groups of all sorts to enter more deeply into reflection on the teaching of the pastoral letter.
One resource is a one-session study guide. The other is a five-part study intended to help participants take a deeper dive into the content of the pastoral letter. Other guides specially written for families, children and youth are nearly complete.
The other resource that I encourage you to spend time with this Lent is the pastoral plan, which was introduced at the Archdiocesan Convocation in December. “Vision 2030, A Pastoral Plan for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City” is intended to be read in light of the pastoral letter and vice-versa. The two go together. Vision 2030 lays out a plan that is the fruit of more than two years of discernment and consultation. It will guide the pastoral activities of the archdiocese for the next 10 years.
It articulates our pastoral priorities, beginning with building a culture of conversion and discipleship. The other priorities include strengthening education and formation, addressing the unique needs of the young, strengthening marriages and family life and integrating our ministry efforts to better serve the needs of our growing Hispanic population and other cultural groups.
During the years to come, all these priorities will be addressed through the twin lenses of love of God and love of neighbor. Be assured of my prayers for a fruitful Lent and a rich harvest of holiness.