Immaculate Conception Catholic Church has turned purple! Not really, but colored lights make it look that way at night. Church leaders hope it helps start a conversation as people ask members what it means.

The Catholic church has gone purple!

Not really, but if you drove down 2nd Street S.E. at night lately, you would see the color purple all over the front of the church! Several people have asked the members of the church why? Why do you have purple spotlights on the front of your church? What does it mean?

The answer is, “It is for the Prince.” No, not that Prince! The Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ! Let me explain.

The Catholic Church has about six colors it uses during the year to mark certain occasions or seasons. White, Red, Green, Purple or Violet, Black and Rose. Most other churches also use these same colors and at the same time. Three of these colors are the major ones most often used: Green, Violet and White.

Green marks the season of ordinary times. Although nothing is ordinary with Jesus Christ, this is just the way the church counts the weeks in between the major seasons. Ordinary comes from the word Ordinance which is a way to number or count time.

White is for Christmas and Easter: Jesus’ wonderful birth and his rising from the dead!

Purple or Violet is for Advent and Lent. These are the seasons of anticipation and inner reflection. We are in the season of Lent right now, which also follows along with the forty days Jesus was withdrawn into the desert, sacrificing, being tempted by the Devil, and then beginning his ministry.

Father Alfonso Gutierrez, the priest of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, wanted to draw attention to the season of Lent in a special way.  He said we have this big beautiful church, why not draw attention to it and the seasons we are in.

After all, as Christians, we are supposed to spread the word of Jesus Christ and this expression of light is doing just that. After you ask about the lights, the conversation naturally turns to Jesus Christ. That’s what He wants! He wants us to all recognize him and know how fond of us he is. He suffered for us, died for us and came back from the dead for us. Wow! Who else can we say has done that for us? No one!

So when you feel down, lose a family member, feel frustrated, have any sort of issue that just makes you crazy, drive down 2nd Street S.E. Look at the purple light and remember what Jesus did for us and that you are never alone. Never. He promises us that. Now you ask why? Why does He promise us everlasting life and that we will never be alone?

Plain and simple. Jesus Christ is very, very fond of each and every one of you.

The purple lights worked, we’re talking! Now wait and see what happens when they go White!

People will be asking, why has the Catholic Church gone white? Why do you have white lights shining on it? What does it mean?

Let’s talk.

— Paul Everett

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church