
My cousin, John Pobuda of Sun City West, Ariz., died this year on his 89th birthday, Valentine’s Day. Our family Marine was very much like a big brother to me. My first memories of John go back to the days of World War II when he was granted a break from action in the Pacific and enjoyed a leave back home with family and friends.

BEND — The confirmation travel season has begun. From now until the end of May nearly every weekend will involve some kind of travel to a parish for the conferral of confirmation. This past weekend involved a trip to Milton-Freewater. There, besides conferring the sacrament of confirmation on 40 young people, I had the opportunity to see and bless the newly completed parish hall.

BEND — Lent is a graced season. Lent is a penitential season. Lent is a reflective season. Lent is a hopeful season. Lent is a preparatory season. Lent is linked to repentance. The Ash Wednesday application of ashes is accompanied by the sobering phrase: Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return.

In an Easter homily St. Augustine long ago stated, “Christ has suffered; let us die to sin.” Jesus encourages all of us to fast, to pray, and to give alms, the church’s traditional Lenten disciplines, not because they will make us look good to other people, but rather because they will help us “die to sin” and grow in our relationship with God and one another on our journey of faith.