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
Father Nathan St Gabriel | November 10, 2019
Father Nathan St Gabriel | November 10, 2019 A Message from Father NathanMy dearest people who are close to my heart. Prayerful greeting to you. I am indeed happy to tell you that I was extremely pleased last Sunday just before the Mass because we had a good turnout...
Father Nathan St Gabriel | November 3, 2019
Father Nathan St Gabriel | November 05, 2019 A Message from Father NathanMy dearest people who are close to my heart. Last Sunday right after the weekend Mass a parishioner came to me and thanked me for bringing the parish together. I felt happy about that, but at...
Father Nathan St Gabriel | October 27, 2019
Father Nathan St Gabriel | October 27, 2019A Message from Father NathanMy dearest people who are close to my heart. THE EUCHARIST – SOURCE AND SUMMIT OF ECCLESIAL LIFE The Catechism of the Catholic Church beautifully explains the holiness and sacredness of the Holy...
Father Nathan St Gabriel | October 20, 2019
Father Nathan St Gabriel | October 13, 2019A Message from Father NathanMy dearest people who are close to my heart. “This missionary mandate touches us personally: I am a mission, always; you are a mission, always; every baptized man and woman is a mission… — Pope...
Father Nathan St Gabriel | October 13, 2019
Father Nathan St Gabriel | October 13, 2019 A Message from Father Nathan My dearest people who are close to my heart. Do something beautiful for God. Do it with your life. Do it every day. Do it in you own way , but do it!” –St. Theresa of Calcutta One of the...
Father Nathan St Gabriel | October 06, 2019
Father Nathan St Gabriel | October 06, 2019A Message from Father NathanMy dearest people who are close to my heart. October – the month of the Rosary! Of all the prayers, the Rosary is the most beautiful and the richest in grace; it is the one most pleasing...