Welcome to our First Sunday of Lent reflection. Filmed inside a historic church built by the first Passionists to arrive in the United States in 1852, this message from Fr. David Colhour, CP, invites us to reflect on the foundation of Lent: prayer.
- Do we speak more than we listen?
- Do we create interior space to hear God’s voice?
- What does it mean to pray not only individually but also together as a community?
Join us this week as we explore the dynamics of prayer and prepare our hearts more deeply for the journey toward Easter.
Welcome to the First Sunday of Lent
Greetings and welcome to our first official Sunday of Lent. I have a real treat for you today. I’m standing in this remarkable church, a place that dates back to when the first Passionists came to the United States in 1852. They left Rome with only 24 to 48 hours to pack up and travel to a place they had never been before. Within a year of arriving, they built this church. While it has since been renovated, it remains magnificent—now 175 years old. You can still see the original floor in the sanctuary.
Bienvenidos al Primer Domingo de Cuaresma
Saludos y bienvenidos a nuestro primer Domingo de Cuaresma. Hoy tengo un verdadero regalo para ustedes. Estoy de pie en esta iglesia extraordinaria, un lugar que se remonta a cuando los primeros Pasionistas llegaron a los Estados Unidos en 1852. Salieron de Roma con solo 24 a 48 horas para empacar y viajar a un lugar que nunca habían visitado. Dentro de un año de su llegada, construyeron esta iglesia. Aunque ha sido renovada desde entonces, sigue siendo magnífica—ahora tiene 175 años. Todavía se puede ver el piso original en el santuario.
Hard Work and Prayer
When I think about those men and their dedication, I realize they could only have accomplished what they did because they were both hard workers and men of prayer. Hard work and prayer go hand in hand.
As we begin this first week of Lent, our theme is prayer. I invite you to spend some time reflecting on that. How do you pray? What matters most to you in prayer? When you pray, do you speak more, or do you listen more?
Individual and Communal Prayer
During this holy season of Lent, consider the difference between praying individually and praying together as a community. What does liturgical prayer mean to you? Do you feel connected to the people around you when you pray?
I often notice that my voice becomes one among many—perhaps dozens or even hundreds—coming together as one before God. There is something deeply blessed about that unity.
Lent is a time to deepen our understanding of the mystery of God and our participation in that mystery.
Invitation for the Week
Throughout this week, I invite you to reflect more intentionally on the dynamics of prayer and how you honor and nurture the Word of God in your life.
For those who would like to continue the conversation, join us on Saturday. We’ll gather to reflect on how the week went and share ideas and stories together.
I look forward to seeing you then. Take care, have a blessed week, and may God bless you.
