18/02/2026
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐: ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ
Today, we wear a mark that the world might see as a sign of mortality, but we wear it as a sign of belonging. Ash Wednesday is not just a date on the calendar; it is a quiet, profound invitation to pause and breathe in the midst of a noisy world.
When the ashes are placed on our foreheads, we are reminded of a simple, humbling truth: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." It is a moment of honesty. It strips away the titles we chase, the possessions we gather, and the masks we wear. It reminds us that at our core, we are fragile, we are human, and we are deeply in need of a love greater than ourselves.
Dear Dominicans, the 40-day journey of Lent begins here. It is a season not of punishment, but of polishing. It is an opportunity to clear away the "dust" of distraction, resentment, and ego that has settled on our souls over the past year. It is a time to mend the broken pieces of our hearts and return to the things that truly matter โ faith, compassion, and a selfless love for one another.
As we begin this walk through the wilderness toward the light of Easter, let us do so with open hands and soft hearts. Let us be kinder to ourselves and more generous to those around us. Let the ashes remind us that life is fleeting, making every moment of grace, every act of forgiveness, and every prayer of gratitude infinitely more precious.
"Even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart." โ Joel 2:12
๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฒ: Llean Amor B. Cesar (SCO Auditor) & Audrie H. Baygan (SCO President)
๐๐๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐ฒ: Marcxime L. Calamba (SCO Vice President) & Audrie H. Baygan (SCO President)
