As Betty Durr considered the renewal of Lent, her thoughts are guided by someone she met 40 years ago when Betty moved onto Sylvandell Drive.

Christians’ purpose for Lent is to purify themselves for Easter, not by focusing on the darkness in their lives, but by working for positive, personal change, she said.

“It is about baptism and renewing our continual conversion, purification and enlightenment,” she said.

The person with such a lasting impact on Betty’s beliefs was John Marcucci, then an assistant pastor of Our Lady of Grace Church. He moved Betty to live her faith in ways she is still discovering.

“I just appreciate his spirituality and spiritual direction,” she said.

Dedicated members of Our Lady of Grace Church, Betty and her husband Mike volunteer at the church’s food bank and other activities spearheaded by the St. Vincent DePaul Society.

While it is common to refer to Lent as 40 days, it really runs from Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday because Good Friday is the beginning of Easter, she said, again crediting Father Marcucci for her understanding.

“It is about deepening our relationship with our God,” she said. “I focus on the enlightenment part.”