Man, Lent is here already!

It seems like just the other day I was moving into St. Ann's and this Wednesday I will be celebrating my first Ash Wednesday Mass. I am excited about Lent. I see Lent as one long retreat in which as a Church we step back and reflect upon our lives and refocus ourselves ever more deeply into the mystery of Christ's life, death, and resurrection.

However, there is the temptation in the back of my mind to say to myself, "Well, just do what you have to do during Lent and leave it at that." There are many ways that we try to rationalize our way out of taking Lent seriously. As a result of many years of taking Lent seriously which has made Easter that much more fulfilling, that thought was eliminated by the firm foundation that was placed in me during my years with the Catholic Student Union and seminary.

As I look forward and plan for Lent, I first must evaluate my current situation. Take some time for reflection to see where I have come from and where I am now, and where the Lord is calling me to delve into. As a priest of Jesus Christ, I feel that I am being invited to learn what it truly means to suffer with Christ and his people. If there is any season of the year in which the priesthood is most clearly expressed, it is this time of sharing in the paschal mystery of Christ's sacrifice to save us.

I pray that as God leads his people during this journey of 40 days, I might be an instrument of his divine will, and in the process find a richer love and appreciation for the gift of the priesthood that God has bestowed upon me.

Silence Is [BETTER THAN] Golden

This week I’m going on my first personal retreat as a priest. Actually, I’m writing this “last minute” because I realized this is due for post while I’m still on silence.

I would simply like to say that I’m very much looking forward to this and have been accumulating my desires for the retreat over the past weeks in preparation for it. I’ll share one: to savor more deeply the Trinity’s work in the many, many experiences of pastoral labor in the vineyard thus far. My metaphor for parish priesthood over the past few months has been like being in a river of grace, tempted to swim upstream, but needing to just flow..flow..flow..(thankfully)with it! I pray retreat time with the Lord will help me marvel at the stream He’s provided me to be in as His Son’s priest.

Pray with me and for me in the Silence that Is BETTER THAN Golden!

Father Will Ganci