From the Desk of Father Nathan | February 14, 2021
A Message from Father Nathan
My dearest people who are all close to my heart!
Ash Wednesday | The Beginning of Lent
“Repent and believe in the Gospel”
“Repent and believe in the Gospel” is the captivating sentence as we begin the holy season of Lent. For any Roman Catholic Church, the suffering the death of Christ is the mystery of our faith. Our faith revolves around this.
Symbolic Meaning of the Ashes
Ash Wednesday opens up the season – ashes from the palms of the preceding year’s Palm Sunday are burned and blessed. With these ashes, the priest marks a cross on the foreheads of worshipers saying “Remember man that dust thou art and unto dust, you shall return.” (– Genesis 3:19)
Besides showing sorrow for their sins those who honor Ash Wednesday add an additional meaning the need to prepare for a holy death. Ash Wednesday is one of the most popular and important holy days in the liturgical calendar. Ash Wednesday opens Lent, a season of fasting and prayer. Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday and is chiefly observed by Catholics although many other Christians observe it too.
Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolize the dust from which God made us.
Today as the ashes are applied to a person’s forehead these words are spoken: “Remember that you were dust and to dust you shall return.” Alternatively the words “Repent and believe in the Gospel”.
Ashes also symbolize grief that we have sinned and caused division from God. Ash Wednesday is not directly mentioned in the Bible, however, from Biblical times, sprinkling oneself with ashes has been a mark of sorrow for sin. Several times the Bible mentions people repenting in dust and ashes for example Esther 4 1 Job 42.6 the inhabitants of Nineveh Jonah 3:5-6 and Daniel 9:3-4.
Repentance in dust and ashes often accompanied fasting during Biblical times.
As we begin the holy season of Lent let us plunge into the mood of this meaningful season. Let us get into the shoes of Christ. Let us commemorate the suffering and death and resurrection of Christ. We shall pray the Stations of the Cross in our parish.
May God bless you all!
Ever wanting to be faithful to your service,
With love and blessings,
—Fr. Sahayanathan Nathan
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Past Messages from Father Nathan
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | August 17, 2025
Thank You for My Birthday Celebration. Last week, before my birthday, my little niece, with all the innocence and concern of a child, went to her mother and said, “I feel bad for Uncle Father Nathan. Uncle is all alone. There is no one to celebrate his birthday with him.” She said it because I am far away from my family home, and in her
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | August 10, 2025
Solemnity of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother – a Holy Day of Obligation
Thursday 14th vigil Mass and, on the 15th, we will have mass at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | August 03, 2025
Our Church is more than a building – it is our extended home. Just as we celebrate the joys and milestones of life within our family homes, I warmly invite you to make the Church the heart of your celebrations too.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | July 27, 2025
Brazilian Amazon Catholic Mission. The Archdiocese of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. supports 15 vibrant missionary territories with over 400 substations along the rivers and deep within the forest—places that can only be reached by boat.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | July 20, 2025
The Importance of Eucharistic Adoration. My Story & Faith Journey. As a second and third grader, I went to church sometimes at 3:00 a.m. and slept on the steps of the church to open the church was a routine of my life. I wanted to be an altar server. I wanted to pray the morning prayer at 5:00 a.m. at the church…
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | July 13, 2025
As we journey together in faith, I want to pause and offer a heartfelt thank you to each of you, the faithful members of our parish family. Your presence, prayers and participation in the life of our Church are truly a blessing. Thank you for who you are to the Church—