Parish School of Religion

Special thanks to our PSR teachers who continue to do an AMAZING job sharing the faith with our parish children. They have taken on the challenge of virtual teaching and made it creative, fun, and impactful for the students. Thank you, too, to all of our wonderful parents. You are truly the primary teachers of the faith to your children. Your care and involvement in making sure that your children are online, participating in class, and doing their homework means more than you know. You are giving a great gift to your children.

Leaning In for Lent

The greatest act of love known to man was Jesus’ unfathomable suffering and death on the cross. During Lent we not only reflect on Jesus' suffering, but enter into it. As a child, I remember dropping coins into the rice boxes everyday and feeling happy to turn the heavy little box in at the end of Lent. I remember giving up sweets, which made Easter morning all the more delightful. Making sacrifices is a good way to keep Jesus close as we prepare for Holy Week and Easter.

This Lent, I feel inspired to try something a little different. I think of it as Leaning In to the great love of our Savior’s suffering on the cross. What does this look like? It’s different for everyone, but follow the formula of lifting our minds and hearts as an offering to our Lord when… we’re ascending the stairs for the 50th time to do the laundry, are cut off in traffic, the baby spills the milk and you’re running late, our spouse is being ugly… If we want to kick it up a notch, while it’s happening, we might say, “Thank you Lord for all of my blessings and the opportunity to share in your love.” It won’t be easy, but my guess is that we will be transformed, and that’s what Lent is all about.

The saints provide wonderful examples how to Lean In to everything that Our Lord offers us. Perhaps this Lent, we might consider choosing a saint and learn more about them. Any book or media source about our faith would be a wonderful addition to our journey through Lent. Trading an hour of Netflix or Facebook for Formed or Bishop Barron would be an awesome sacrifice. The most important thing is that we grow closer to Jesus. He taught us so much, and more than that, he loves us so much. We only need to look at the cross to know that.

God’s blessing to all of you this Lent,

Laura Gyawali
PSR Principal
(314) 993-4422, ext. 209
laura@annunziata.org