Faith Under Scrutiny
Dear All Saints Parish Family,
As we journey deeper into this Lenten season, you may notice something special happening at our 10:30 Masses in the coming weeks — the celebration of the Scrutinies. These rites are part of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), formerly known as RCIA, and are a vital step for those preparing to enter the Church at the Easter Vigil.
The Scrutinies are celebrated on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent with the catechumens — those who are not yet baptized but are seeking to become full members of the Church. These rites are not about judgment, but rather about grace, healing, and strengthening. Each Scrutiny is designed to uncover and heal whatever is weak or sinful in the lives of the elect, while strengthening all that is good and true.
The Gospel readings for these Sundays offer powerful moments for reflection. We hear about Jesus as the Living Water with the Samaritan woman (John 4), the Light of the World with the man born blind (John 9), and the Resurrection and the Life with the raising of Lazarus (John 11). These stories reveal Christ’s power to quench our spiritual thirst, restore our vision, and call us from death to new life.
As a parish, we are called to support those preparing for baptism. I encourage you to pray for our catechumens and candidates, asking the Holy Spirit to strengthen their faith and deepen their love for Christ. The Scrutinies also invite us to reflect on our own lives — where do we thirst for God’s mercy? Where do we need Christ’s light to shine more brightly?
May this season of conversion bring all of us closer to the heart of Jesus, who desires to free us from sin and lead us to the joy of His resurrection.
Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever!
All you holy Saints of God, pray for us!
Peace in Christ,
Fr. Michael Silloway
Pastor