A Message from Father Nathan
My dearest people who are all close to my heart
Lots of love, blessings, and prayers to you all.
Understanding The Lent discipline of Fasting…
Let us try to understand. First, all Catholics are called to fast for at least two important dates. One is Ash Wednesday and the other is Good Friday. Let us try to understand the details. Fasting, prayer, and helping the poor are the three spiritual disciplines of Lent.
How to Fast for Lent
Images Courtesy of St Joan of Arc Catholic Church Hershey, PA
Why Fasting
Prayer, fasting and giving work as a three-fold conversion practice as we prepare for the joys of the Easter season. Fasting adds a serious edge to your prayer life. It is a prayer practice that involves denying yourself something in order to increase your spiritual awareness, strengthen a commitment, or petition God for something you or another person needs.
Fasting is also about detachment – separating yourself from something that you have become overly attached to. It’s a way of reclaiming your spiritual strength and regaining some balance in your life.
Practicing some denial of our wants and needs in small ways can help us grow in self-discipline and the ability to put off momentary comfort for a larger more important goal.
Fasting should not be misused to gain praise or sympathy, to manipulate, or to harmfully affect the body. Done correctly, it can be a spiritual practice that can take your prayer to a new and different level! It is all about you and your relationship with God.
Who Should Fast
Lenten Fasting
Catholics ages 14 or older do not eat meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent, including Good Friday. Instead of meat, many Catholics choose to eat fish – which is why many parishes around the country have fish fries on Fridays during Lent. These are great opportunities for a parish community to come together to pray and fast.
On Ash Wednesday and Good Fridays, Catholics aged 18-59 also limit the amount of food they eat. The exemption is allowed for pregnant women and those who need regular meals for medical reasons.
May you all have a meaningful and spirit-filled Lent
Please continue to pray for me. I continue to hold you in my prayers.
God bless you all.
With lots of love and blessing.
Ever wanting to be faithful to your service.
—Fr. Sahayanathan Nathan
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Past Messages from Father Nathan
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | October 15, 2023
Tthe Roman Catholic Church was established by Christ when Jesus directed the apostle Peter as the head of the church. This belief is based on Matthew 16:18 when Jesus Christ said to Peter:
“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | October 08, 2023
October is the Month of the Rosary. We celebrate our special love toward our Blessed Mother especially Our Lady of the Rosary. Learn the history is the rosary…
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | October 01, 2023
We celebrate the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4. St Francis is the know as the patron saint of animals. But he is so much more…
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | September 24, 2023
Forgiveness & Family. I love our nation and we all need to be grateful to God for all our blessings. I extend my apologies.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | September 17, 2023
Get involved. Welcome back our winter Parishioners + Encourage Online Mass Viewers to come back to in-person worship…
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | September 10, 2023
Saint John Chrysostom was a convert, a holy deacon, an influential priest, an exceptionally consequential Archbishop, and a prolific writer…