LENT 2025 ~ Our Walk With God 

Theme: Our Walk with God

Symbol: Walking

For our Lenten theme this year, we are using the imagery of walking on a pilgrimage with God and our companion parishioners. The inspiration of walking together comes from the legendary Camino de Santiago de Compostela or the Way to Saint James in Spain, one of the three famous Medieval pilgrimages; the others were either to Rome or Jerusalem. We will begin our pilgrimage on Ash Wednesday, and after traveling forty days, arrive at our destination on Easter.

Have you ever asked someone, “Would you like to take a walk?” I know that I have on numerous occasions. For any of us, when going on a walk we need to be attentive to our surroundings by acclimating ourselves and listening. In our walk with God and our fellow parishioners during this Season of Lent, we will walk together through our community and individual prayer. Furthermore, we will strive to connect more with God and others. We will also seek the forgiveness and mercy of our God that is given to us so freely, if we only just ask.

When walking, to make it successful and pleasurable, we need comfortable clothing and good shoes. Some of us will enjoy good conversation, while others will embrace the silence and enjoyable scenery. If our walk during Lent is to be fruitful, it will require prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, to help us turn away from our selfishness and sinful ways, which distance us from God. So, let’s bring along with us those three traditional

Lenten practices along our walk. Let’s pray more regularly to deepen our relationship with God, which we all too often ignore. Let’s fast, and allow ourselves to be hungry to identify with the poor. Let’s give alms to rid ourselves of the excess we have that masks our need for God. Our walk with God this Lent will aid in restoring our relationships with God and others that might be broken or perhaps just needs some nourishment. We all will make one symbolic stop together at Mount Irago, Spain which is along the Way to Saint James. Like the real location, we will place our individual rocks or notes at the base of the cross that is placed on the northeast side of the sanctuary. In putting a rock or note there, we are symbolizing letting go of sins, guilt, and other burdens that might be muddying up our inner selves.

We change our routine each year so that we can grow spiritually and get closer to God; therefore, a walk will do us all some good.

“Would you like to go on a walk? And do not forget to bring along your walking stick!”