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 | July 14, 2024
St. Kateri Tekakwitha. First Native American saint. Patron saint of ecology and the environment, people in exile, and Native Americans…
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | July 07, 2024
St. Benedict. Father of monasticism. Patron Saint of Europe. Protector. He is the patron saint of a wide variety of people and needs, including: against poison, agricultural workers…
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | June 30, 2024
Important Basilica – St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Basilica of St. John – Ephesus, St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica in Chennai India + the Story of St. Thomas.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | June 23, 2024
The Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, apostles. The rock on which the Church is built and the origin of our faith -the protectors and guides.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | June 16, 2024
Happy Father’s Day. Officially recognized as a holiday in 1972 by President Nixon. Our Fathers are our heroes and intercessors.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | June 09, 2024
June 13 – We celebrate the Memorial of St. Anthony of Padua. The patron saint of my village. He was called the “Arca Testamenti”, meaning “the living repository of the Holy Scriptures”.