March 6, 2026— A Lenten Call to Action
It’s the season of Lent, a time of deeper prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It is a sacred invitation to step closer to Christ through sacrifice and service. For many, this means giving something up. For the Claretian, it means giving themselves in service. For Claretian Community Impact (CCI), this means going beyond the church and into the communities.
In response to Lent’s call for reflective thought, Claretians enter the challenges of the communities they serve head-on:
Fr. Paul Keller, CMF, Provincial Superior of the Claretian Missionaries of the USA-Canada Province, and other faith leaders have been on the front lines in supporting migrants at the Broadview Detention Center.
Clergy recently prevailed and allowed access to the Broadview ICE facility near Chicago to bring the sacraments of the Church to people in immigration detention. This happened following legal filings led by the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership to offer pastoral care and communion typically available to those detained at the facility. A federal judge recently ruled that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security must grant access to Catholic clergy and faith leaders to minister to the needs of the detainees.
Their sacrifice is more than what they give up; it’s what they give out: energy, time, presence, and hope.
In the communities the Claretians serve, they preach and support families daily. When faith is put into action, Lent becomes more meaningful.
One way you, our supporters, can put faith into action is through almsgiving. The Lenten season encourages us to show solidarity, not just giving. When you support Claretian-led programs, you are becoming part of the mission. You can be the reason schools like Chicago’s Our Lady of Guadalupe get a working kitchen, or help strengthen parish communities and expand outreach efforts. You can choose how you’d like to be apart of:
Make a Lenten offering to support Claretian-led ministries.
Organizing a personal fundraiser and asking loved ones to donate.
Share the mission on social media to spread awareness.
Though Lent is 40 days, the Claretian mission doesn’t end with Easter. The service, sacrifice, and solidarity continue long after the season closes. Together, we can continue to serve and support those who need it the most.
