Dear Friends:

In this final year of preparation for the great Jubilee of Christ's birth, we, along with the entire Church, emphasize the theme, Called to Conversion. God, the loving Father, has given to all humanity the beloved Son, Jesus Christ, as Saviour of the whole world. Our Lord himself issued an invitation to conversion. "Come to me all you who labour and are heavily burdened and I will give you rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden light "

The call to conversion gains particular significance during the penitential season of Lent. For us, conversion has a two-fold aspect.

First the aspect of turning away from all that can destroy our relationship with God; a turning away from any attachment which destroys our spiritual connection to God. Such an attachment we call serious or mortal sin and truly it is a heavy burden. "Come to me," says the Lord, "and I will give you rest." Today the Lord gives rest from the burden of sin, whether serious or light, when we meet him in the sacrament of penance or reconciliation, which he gave to the Church as an antidote for sin. This sacrament restores us to the loving union with God which we call the life of grace. Moreover it restores the sinner to full communion in the Church and the sign of that community, the reception of our Lord in the Eucharist.

The second aspect of conversion, which is the positive side, is a fuller embrace of the Lord, and the ways of the Lord in our daily life. This positive side of conversion is a requirement for each and every one of us who follows Christ. Its appeal should be stronger in this holy season of Lent. Christ invites us, "Come to me." This path of virtue requires at times, great effort, and may seem to be a burden. But the Lord assures us that we can carry it for with God's help, his "burden is light". For those who say, "I don't know which way to go" our Lord informs us "I am the way." In other words we should imitate him. We should copy his love, his kindness, his mercy, his caring for others especially the poor. Our Lord prayed, fasted and performed works of mercy to benefit the whole Church. We too should do the same for our own spiritual growth and to promote the level of spiritual health or intensity of the whole Church. For the good we achieve, assists not only oneself, but adds to the spiritual well-being of the entire communion of saints.

May this Lent be a special invitation to conversion for each of us as we continue our life's pilgrimage to God and prepare to celebrate the great Jubilee of our Lord's birth.

May God abundantly bless all of you.

Yours sincerely in Christ,

BISHOP OF HAMILTON