A couple of years ago, I bought a membership package to Pure Barre. If you know anything about barre fitness classes, you know that they are harder than they look. Barre challenges and strengthens muscles through very small, isometric movements. From the outside, it looks simple… like you aren’t even doing anything. In reality, it’s incredibly challenging to anyone who has never exercised in this way. The result is incredibly strong and resilient muscles. Think ballerina style strength training.
The year I bought the membership, they had (and still have) something call the “Fall Fit Challenge”. It was a challenge that encouraged participants to complete 20 classes in 30 days. The incentive to complete the challenge were the prizes given to all those who were successful. But the best prize was the physical transformation that occurred.
The task I have serving in a parish setting is that I while I look to encourage parishioners to adopt a physically healthy lifestyle, I must also, at the same time, encourage them to remain vigilant about the health of their souls. I strive to find a balance in making sure that any challenge or any new program I develop always encompasses the whole person, body and soul.
I want to invite you to join our Fall SoulFit Challenge, beginning on October 27th and ending on November 26th, the first Sunday in Advent. If you currently attend 1 Mass per week, the challenge will be to attend 10-15 Masses in the 30 days leading up to Advent. It will be a challenge for many, as work schedules may not align with our daily Mass times (Monday- 7pm, Tues-Friday- 7am, 9:15 am, Saturday- 9:15 am).
However the goal is not that you attend all of them at St. Ignatius, but rather that you receive the Eucharist more often, gifted to us daily and at different times all over Cincinnati. For those working downtown, there is a daily 12:10 Mass at Old St. Mary’s. There is also a noon and 5:15pm daily at St. Peter in Chains. And the list goes on. All over this city, the Lord invites us to COME and participate in this miraculous event and consume Him daily. He longs to strengthen and heal us in ways we could never accomplish on our own.
If you are already a daily Mass attendee, consider going to the sacrament of Reconciliation more often or add an extra hour a week of Adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
If you are not regularly attending Sunday Mass, weekly Mass attendance will be your goal throughout the challenge.
The point of this challenge is that while we all may have different starting points on our journeys to live as more faithful followers of Christ, we can all do more to love and strengthen our relationship with God. And while it may not look like you are doing anything, it is incredibly challenging to anyone who has never tried to rearrange a busy schedule to accommodate spending more time with Jesus. For this reason, I am writing about this long before it begins. Please pray about it and then plan for it. The prize will be the spiritual transformation that occurs.
What better time to do this than in preparation for the Holy season of Advent, as we await His coming? Next month I will post a link to all the daily Mass times.
May God bless you and keep you and your families safe!
Kate Rewwer
Parish Health Coordinator
