FOREST HILLS SPEAKING WITH THE BISHOP ABOUT HOW HE IS GETTING READY. BISHOP MARK ECKMAN TELLING ME, AS LENT BEGINS TOMORROW, TODAY IS A TIME TO PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE NEXT 40 DAYS. LENT A TIME OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN THE CATHOLIC FAITH WITH THREE THINGS. BISHOP MARK ECKMAN SAYS ARE AT THE CENTER. PRAYER, ALMSGIVING, OR GIVING CHARITABLY, AND FASTING, WHICH A LOT OF TIMES WE JUST THINK MEANS GIVING UP FOOD, OR SOMETIMES CANDY OR BEER. BUT WHEN WE FAST, WE REALLY LOOK TO GIVE UP SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE INTERFERING WITH OUR GROWTH. IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING TO DETERMINE YOUR FOCUS FOR LENT, BISHOP ECKMAN POSES THIS QUESTION WELL, WHAT CAUSES THEM TO LOSE THE MOST SLEEP? YOU KNOW, SO IF AT ANY TIME THEY’RE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN, OKAY, WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PRAY FOR THEM OR TO HELP THEM OUT, OR TO MAYBE GUIDE THEM DOWN THE RIGHT PATH BECAUSE YOU THINK THEY’RE GOING DOWN THE WRONG PATH? OR MAYBE YOU’RE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIPS AT WORK. YOU KNOW, THINGS AREN’T GOING JUST RIGHT THERE. WHAT CAN YOU DO TO MAKE THAT SITUATION BETTER? BISHOP ECKMAN, EXPRESSING HIS EXCITEMENT TO WELCOME MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE INTO THE CATHOLIC FAITH THIS SEASON AS THEY TAKE PART IN THE RITE OF ELECTION, A SIGNIFICANT STEP IN PREPARING TO ENTER THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. IT’S THE MOST THAT WE’VE HAD IN ABOUT 25 YEARS, SO WE’RE SEEING A RESURGENCE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND EMBRACING THE FAITH AND TRYING TO LIVE IT OUT. MEANWHILE, SEVEN CHURCHES IN THE SAINT JOSEPH THE WORKER PARISH ARE PREPARING TO CLOSE DUE TO DECLINING POPULATION OVER THE COURSE OF MANY YEARS, A DECISION BISHOP ACKMAN SAYS HE HAS PRAYED OVER QUITE A BIT. SAINT MAURICE CHURCH IN FOREST HILLS WILL BE THE SOLE LOCATION FOR THE PARISH, BUT THE PRAYER LIFE OF THE PARISH STILL GOES ON, SO THEY’LL STILL HAVE STATIONS OF THE CROSS, THEY’LL STILL HAVE MASS, THEY’LL STILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXTRA DEVOTIONS THAT THEY’LL BE CELEBRATING THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. AND OF COURSE, TOMORROW MARKS THE START OF SEVERAL WEEKS OF FISH FRIES. EVERY SINGLE PARISH CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE THE BEST FISH FRY. AND HERE AT SAINT MAURICE CHURCH, SAINT JOSEPH THE WORKER PARISH WILL BEGIN ITS FISH FRY TOMORROW AT 3 P.M. AND WILL CONTINUE EVERY FRIDA

Lent begins tomorrow, marking a time of spiritual growth for Catholics, with Bishop Mark Eckman emphasizing prayer, almsgiving, and fasting as central practices. “Prayer, almsgiving, or giving charitably and fasting, which a lot of times we just think means giving up food or sometimes candy or beer when we fast, you know, we really look to give up something that might be interfering with our growth,” Eckman said.For those struggling to determine their focus for Lent, Eckman posed a reflective question: “What causes them to lose the most sleep? You know, so at nighttime, they’re worried about their children. Okay, what can you do to pray for them or to help them out or to maybe guide them down the right path because you think they’re going down the wrong path, or maybe you’re worried about your relationships at work? You know, things aren’t going just right there. What can you do to make that situation better?”Bishop Eckman expressed excitement about welcoming more than 300 people into the Catholic faith this season through the “Rite of Election,” a significant step in preparing to enter the church. “It’s the most that we’ve had in about 25 years. So, we’re seeing a resurgence, especially with the young people and embracing the faith and trying to live it out,” he said.Meanwhile, seven churches in the St. Joseph the Worker Parish are preparing to close due to declining population over many years, a decision Eckman said he has prayed about extensively. Saint Maurice Church in Forest Hills will be the sole location for the parish. “…But the prayer life of the parish still goes on. So, they’ll still have stations of the cross, they’ll still have mass, they’ll still have opportunities for extra devotions that they’ll be celebrating throughout the season,” Eckman said.Tomorrow also marks the start of several weeks of fish fries, a beloved tradition in the community. “Every single parish claims that they have the best fish fry,” Eckman said.St. Maurice Church will host St. Joseph the Worker Parish’s fish fries will begin its Ash Wednesday fish fry tomorrow at 3 p.m., continuing every Friday through March 27.Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel

PITTSBURGH —

Lent begins tomorrow, marking a time of spiritual growth for Catholics, with Bishop Mark Eckman emphasizing prayer, almsgiving, and fasting as central practices.

“Prayer, almsgiving, or giving charitably and fasting, which a lot of times we just think means giving up food or sometimes candy or beer when we fast, you know, we really look to give up something that might be interfering with our growth,” Eckman said.

For those struggling to determine their focus for Lent, Eckman posed a reflective question: “What causes them to lose the most sleep? You know, so at nighttime, they’re worried about their children. Okay, what can you do to pray for them or to help them out or to maybe guide them down the right path because you think they’re going down the wrong path, or maybe you’re worried about your relationships at work? You know, things aren’t going just right there. What can you do to make that situation better?”

Bishop Eckman expressed excitement about welcoming more than 300 people into the Catholic faith this season through the “Rite of Election,” a significant step in preparing to enter the church.

“It’s the most that we’ve had in about 25 years. So, we’re seeing a resurgence, especially with the young people and embracing the faith and trying to live it out,” he said.

Meanwhile, seven churches in the St. Joseph the Worker Parish are preparing to close due to declining population over many years, a decision Eckman said he has prayed about extensively.

Saint Maurice Church in Forest Hills will be the sole location for the parish. “…But the prayer life of the parish still goes on. So, they’ll still have stations of the cross, they’ll still have mass, they’ll still have opportunities for extra devotions that they’ll be celebrating throughout the season,” Eckman said.

Tomorrow also marks the start of several weeks of fish fries, a beloved tradition in the community. “Every single parish claims that they have the best fish fry,” Eckman said.

St. Maurice Church will host St. Joseph the Worker Parish’s fish fries will begin its Ash Wednesday fish fry tomorrow at 3 p.m., continuing every Friday through March 27.

Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel