At the beginning of Lent, it is good to listen to the message of Jesus, who calls us to change, to be a sign of hope and good news, in times when another type of thought seems to take precedence. Convert and believe in the gospel. It is the invitation to live in a new way, as children of the same Father, as brothers to all. The ash, with which Lent begins, on the one hand, recalls how fragile our lives are. From the gospel, we promote life, motivating us to seek the gracious face of God in his Son, his Jesus, who decided, gives his life in our favor. The Christian life promotes justice, love, and peace. Now that we begin Lent let us take up the call of God who continues to echo within our lives, learning to listen to the call of love that he sends us. Christians who hear this call understand that it is not possible to live as before because the face of a God who trusts us motivates something new. Now that we are taking firm steps in youth ministry, joining forces, and joining projects with other goodwill people, let us awaken the joy that springs from the God in whom we believe. Let us share good news of knowing that we are on our way to Easter, revitalizing life and hope because we are followers of Christ. The ash marks a new path, valuing who we are, giving vitality to what we share, and above all, making a better life possible because we are capable of creating more human spaces for everyone from the parish to the community that surrounds us. God bless you.