As we move deeper into the heart of winter, we do so as a faith community united in prayer, hope, and love. While the world around us slows beneath snow and silence, the Church invites us to see this season not as emptiness, but as stillness, a sacred space where God quietly renews the soul.
Winter has its own kind of holiness. It is a season of rest, of letting the earth lie fallow, of allowing what is hidden to take root. In the same way, our spiritual lives also need times of pause, moments when we step back from constant activity and return to the quiet presence of God.
For many, these winter days can feel long and heavy. Yet Scripture reminds us that even in the cold and darkness, God is at work. Beneath the surface, life is preparing to bloom. And so, winter becomes a gentle teacher: it calls us to trust God’s timing, to embrace stillness, and to rest in His providence.
Preparing Our Hearts for Lent
Even now, the Church gently draws our attention forward. Ash Wednesday falls on February 18, and soon we will begin the sacred journey of Lent, a season of repentance, prayer, fasting, and deeper conversion of heart.
Lent is not meant to arrive suddenly or catch us unprepared. Before we take on sacrifices, we are first invited to surrender. Before we “do,” we are invited to “be,” to be with Christ, and to let Him lead us.
How Can We Live This Season in Faith?
Be Still Each Day – Even five minutes of silence can become a sanctuary. Sit with the Lord and simply say, “Here I am.” Offer your worries to Him. Trust that He is working even when you cannot see results.
Prepare Gently for Lent – Ask the Lord what He is calling you to let go of, what He is calling you to heal, and what He is calling you to begin.
Thank you for your continued prayers and faithful presence. Even in winter’s stillness, we are not alone. Together, we remain united in Christ.
God bless,
Deacon Mike Walsh
