In my column for today, I want to present the message that Pope Leo delivered for Lent on February 7, 2026. Here it is: Listening and Fasting: Lent as a Time of Conversion

I have been reading the Message of Pope Francis for Lent 2020. I think that it is quite good. For that reason, I want to share it with you. Because of its length I will share it with you in the next two columns. Here is the first part for your reflection and study.

Ten years ago, Emily Simpson published an article in the now defunct Our Sunday Visitor about the spiritual works of mercy. In that article she paired an individual spiritual work of mercy with a particular saint. Let me list those below *Counseling the doubtful: St. Francis de Sales *Instructing the Ignorant: St. Francis Xavier *Admonishing sinners: St. Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe *Forgiving offenses: St. Maria Goretti *Comforting the afflicted: St. André Bessette *Bearing wrongs patiently: St. Jean Juggan *Praying for the living and the dead: St. Rose Philippine Duchesne

Today is the Second Sunday of Lent. This afternoon our catechumens and candidates will be going to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington for the Rite of Election. A catechumen is someone preparing to receive all the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist) at the Easter Vigil. The candidate is someone who has already been baptized but is preparing to receive the other Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil. If the Candidate was not baptized in the Catholic Church, he or she will be received into the Catholic Church just before receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation at the Easter Vigil.

As I mentioned in my column last week, Robert Cardinal McElroy has met with over four hundred lay leaders from our parishes over the last year to get their input on establishing some pastoral goals for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington for the next five years. At the Priest Convocation that Fr. G. and I attended in November 2025, the priests at the convocation were asked to formulate six goals for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington based on the input from the four hundred or so lay leaders.

Over the past year Robert Cardinal McElroy has met with over four hundred lay leaders from our parishes to get their input on some pastoral goals for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington for the next five years. At the Priest Convocation that Fr. G. and I attended in November 2025, the priests at the convocation were asked to formulate six goals for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington based on the input from the four hundred or so lay leaders.

I first came to realize that there were different rites in the Catholic Church through the help of my religion teacher in the eighth grade, Sister M. Jane Frances, R.S.M. Let me explain what I mean by the word “rite” in this context: the diverse liturgical traditions in which the one catholic and apostolic faith has come to be expressed and celebrated in various cultures and lands. For more on this you check the Glossary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Emily Simpson wrote an article that was published in the January 31, 2016, issue of Our Sunday Visitor. Unfortunately, Our Sunday Visitor ceased publication in 2025. In her article, “Corporal Works of Mercy: Let the Saints Be Your Guide,” Emily paired together a corporal work of mercy with a saint who exhibited this work of mercy in a particular way. When I read her article again recently, I was reminded that it was still very timely a decade later. Let me list the Corporal Works of Mercy and the saint whom she linked with that work of mercy.

We celebrate Catholic Schools Week from the last Sunday of January through the following Saturday. In other words, today marks the start of Catholic Schools Week 2026. As I think back to my time as a student at St. Paul School in Butler, Pennsylvania, I remember that my teachers, Sisters of Mercy, were originally from the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. They came from cities and towns like Altoona, Bedford, Ebensburg, Johnstown, New Germany, Portage, and Spangler. A few were even from Butler! The students at St. Paul School in my time often heard stories about the Johnstown Flood and Prince Demetrius Gallitzin (1770-1840). I want to devote this column to Prince Gallitzin, who spent many years as the sole priest in Western Pennsylvania.

I want to continue listing some good advice on parish etiquette as we are at the beginning of a New Year. These reflections were first presented by Barbara Budde in a pamphlet (which is no longer in print) for the National Pastoral Life Center. Today I want to make some suggestions about what to do if Mass has already begun or if you need to leave early.

The beginning of the year is a time when we make resolutions about things we could put into practice in the New Year. To that end, let me offer some good advice on parish etiquette as we are at the beginning of a New Year. These reflections were first presented by Barbara Budde in a pamphlet (which is no longer in print) for the National Pastoral Life Center. Let me mention some things that we could do to prepare well for the Sunday liturgy.

As we celebrate the Epiphany today, I find myself thinking about the Holy Family. When they had to flee to Egypt to avoid the raging King Herod who wanted to murder the Christ child because Herod feared this child under two years of age was destined to seize his throne. The Holy Family was fleeing for their lives from murder and violence—just as many families are doing today. Herod wanted no rivals, so this child had to die. As we know so well, the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem perished instead.