|
Dear AVs, Alumni, Friars & Friends,
I was blessed during my Volunteer year to be encouraged by our director, Fr. Joe Mostardi, OSA, to use the season of Lent not only to reflect upon our lives but to do something about the ways we were falling short on all we hoped to get out of our AV year. Ever since that year, Lent has held a special place in my own faith journey and in my life. For me, Lent becomes an opportunity to look at where I am now and where I want to go. It challenges me to be more and do more with my life.
So this Lent, I want to extend that challenge to each of you. Take the time to reflect upon your own lives, where you are at spiritually, with your community, at your service sites and in every other way. Make a point of challenging yourselves and one another to continue to push your limits. To make this year all it can be. To grow as much as possible. I guarantee you, if you do that this Lent, you will not regret it…
Enclosed you will find reflections from your fellow Volunteers, from alumni, from Augustinians, from service site supervisors and from members of our Advisory Council. Each day we have asked a different person to reflect upon the readings of that day and share their insights with us. Take time individually or as a community to read and think about these reflections. They make for a great prayer before meals, especially because sometimes they can spur some great conversation.
As I have read through these reflections I am continually impressed with the insights that everyone has shared. They call me to think about my own life and reflect on how I can become a better person during this Lenten season, and how I can take that with me well past the Easter season. I hope you enjoy their thoughts as much as I have.
Thank you to all who contributed to this effort. None of this would be possible without you. Let us keep these people in our thoughts and prayers, in a special way, during this Lenten season.
Peace, April |