February 20, 2018

Three-day Lenten mission continues tonight at Ludlow church

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Kathleen Harrington

LUDLOW – The pews of the church were filled Monday night as a three-night Lenten mission by Father Warren Savage got underway at St. Elizabeth Parish, here.

Opening the evening with a prayer asking for “a spirit that always considers what is right and then seeks to put it into action,” he explained the mission. “Spirit-Filled Evangelizers: The Delightful, Comforting Joy of Evangelizing” is based on Pope Francis first encyclical, “The Joy of the Gospel.”

“In his first pastoral letter, Bishop Rozanski called for evangelization,” said Father Savage. “This Lenten series is to help us understand how to evangelize.”

Creating the program for the three night-mission and writing the guide took a lot of research and time, according to Father Savage. “This guide is for people to use throughout the Lenten season,” he said.

The first two nights of the mission are lessons of love through Liturgy of the Word. Beginning with “Encountering the Saving Love of Jesus,” Father Savage told the audience, “You are the church. What happens in this sacred space is not supposed to stay here.”

He explained that over the course of the mission, he hopes people will come to understand more deeply their purpose as Christians in the world. He used, as an example, showing compassion to those in need of healing in Parkland, Fla., following the mass shooting at the high school last week. “People’s lives have been broken by an act of hatred, an act contrary to God. Our love and compassion, our energy here can help to transform the world.”

“How many Christians wake up and say, ‘How can I serve God today?’” Father Savage asked. He included the “Servant Song” in his mission program. He told everyone to listen as he sang the words, “Will you let me be your servant? Let me be as Christ to you.” 

People soon joined in the singing. Father Savage told them that response was because people were taken in by the words they heard. He encouraged all to read the Scriptures as if reading notes of music: “Be drawn in by the power of God.”

The focus of the second night of the Lenten mission is how to become closer to God by touching the suffering and human misery of others. “We are tempted to be that kind of Christian who keeps the Lord’s wounds at arm’s length,” he explained. The mission concludes on Wednesday evening with Mass.

In selecting St. Elizabeth Parish as a location for one of his Lenten series, Father Savage said the three-day mission would draw people from the surrounding area. Among those in attendance on Monday night were people from the other parishes in Ludlow, as well as Springfield, and Monson.

Sitting in the pews, Msgr. Homer Gosselin, pastor of St. Elizabeth Parish, listened to Father Savage’s message.  “Good turnout,” he said as he spoke with departing members of his church. “I would say we had more than 300 people here. We’ve got room for a few more.”

The series is open to the public and continues on Feb. 20 and 21. Each night begins at 7 p.m. in the church, located at 191 Hubbard St. in Ludlow.