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Dear Friends

Lent and Caregiving

Lent and Caregiving:
Similar . . . but Different

Week of March 2, 2020
Prayer Requests

Dear Friends,

Caregiving is like a personal, and often mostly private, "Lent." It's your own time of making sacrifices and adding extra obligations. And while Lent is "only" 40 days, your caregiving can be that many days, weeks, months or years.

Unlike the Church's Lent, caregiving can have a gradual beginning. Yes, in some cases it starts after a catastrophic event or diagnosis that demands immediate attention. But not infrequently, a care-receiver's needs increase gradually.

The middle of Lent can be tough but you know it's the middle. A time when Ash Wednesday seems like a dim and distant memory and Easter waits somewhere beyond the horizon.

Not so with your caregiving. You don't know what's coming. You don't know when.

For some caregivers, a loved one recovers and the caregiving duties decrease or end. For others, the end will come when your care-receiver dies. It's your personal "Good Friday," with "Easter" not until you join your loved one in heaven.

Like Lent, the pilgrimage of caregiving is filled with challenges and sacrifices. With blessings and graces. And, like Lent, God is with you every step of the way. He's with you today. Right here. Right now.

You remain in my prayers.

Bill

- - -

This week we're so pleased to welcome Lori M. and Ana Maria M. of California and Barbara C. of Forida as the newest members of the Friends of St. John the Caregiver. Please keep them and their intentions in your prayers. They have promised to pray for you and yours.

And again this week we cordially invite you to join the Friends of St. John the Caregiver! (FSJC's programs include YourAgingParent.com and CatholicCaregivers.com.) You can find out more about becoming a member here.

No meetings, no dues. All we ask is that you pray for caregivers and those receiving care. Our members include caregivers, care-receivers, and those who support both (including quite a few former caregivers).

You can:

sign up online here

or call us toll-free at 1-800-392-JOHN (5646)

or print and mail an application form.

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