My Dear Friends in Christ,

We all have childhood memories associated with the Lenten season. They are usually in the category of refraining from some favorite food or practice. Topping the list would be candy or maybe one of the cola drinks. Giving up movies was another favorite.

Click here to listen to Bishop Boland describe his trip to Zimbabwe.

During my recent trip to Zim­bab­we with a delegation from Catholic Relief Services, we were provided the opportunity to have a meal with the bishops of the eight dioceses of that country. They are ministering to their people under most difficult circumstances. Zimbabwe was once known as the breadbasket of the African continent. They actually exported all types of agricultural products to other countries. Today the infrastructure is in shambles-60 to 70% of the population is hungry. Food is scarce, inflation is rampant, cholera and HIV-AIDS are at epic proportions and the health system is in complete disarray. Will the Bishops of Zimbabwe write a letter to their people re­questing them "to give up something? I expect not-they are an impoverished people. In spite of their great material wants, they are a joyous and spirit-filled people. What is the basis of their joy?

On the other side of the coin-we may have the challenge of an overabundance. All our needs are at our fingertips. Presently we are experiencing a severe global recession and our cities and towns are filled with anxiety and fear-our world is falling apart-please don't ask me to give up anything-my security (social and bodily) is fast eroding. Where will it lead us? Have we a joyful spirit? Can we share in the burden of our long-suffering brothers and sisters in Zim­babwe?

I would ask you to use the Lenten season to find Jesus anew in the quality of your life and to thank the Risen Lord for the graciousness of salvation that is his gift to each one of us.

Maybe the recession will be beneficial in giving us a new perspective of the place of material goods in our lives.

Jean Vanier, founder of L'Arche, an international network of communities for the mentally disabled, expressed this concept most cogently in one of his writings:

"There is a fundamental healing that must take place before we really can listen to the music of reality, before we can listen to people without fear, before we can listen to the Spirit. Jesus the healer comes when we are conscious that we need a healer; ... conscious of our own egoism, all the anarchy of desire, all the fears, ..., all the need for human security that incites us to possess."

Let us try during this Lenten season to diminish our fears, to be­come more trusting of God's love and begin to grow in union with the Spirit.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

J. Kevin Boland

Bishop of Savannah

Photo:Children enjoy lunch provided by Catholic Relief Services at the Chemhondoro Primary School, Zimbabwe, during Bishop J. Kevin Boland's visit February 2-4.

Photo courtesy of Catholic Relief services.