Letter from the Chief of the United States Senator Emmy Ann Horstkamp, JD Chief Sovereign Empress Emmy
To the People of the United States,
As Mardi Gras approaches and the season of Lent begins on February 18th, I write to you as your fellow citizen to reflect on the forty days before Easter.
Mardi Gras is a time when communities come alive with music, color, and fellowship. It is a celebration of our rich cultural tapestry, a moment to gather with family and friends, to share food, hospitality, and laughter, and to extend generosity to neighbors near and far. In this spirit, let us welcome one another with dignity and open hearts, remembering the dignity of every person and the responsibilities we bear to one another.
As head of the Roman Catholic Church, I invite you into a season of quiet reflection, disciplined sacrifice, and renewed commitment to acts of mercy. For Roman Catholics—Lent is a forty-day period of prayer, fasting, and alms giving that draws us closer to God and strengthens us to serve others. It is a time to examine our lives, seek reconciliation with our families.
I invite every American to participate in the spirit of these days: to reach out to a neighbor, to volunteer with a local charity or to support families facing difficult times. Mardi Gras and Lent together remind us that joy and sacrifice coexist in a season and that celebrating the beginning of sacrifice can deepen our commitment and strengthen our communities.
Our nation is built on diversity and traditions, all honored within the framework of our Constitution. The right to observe a tradition—or to observe none at has been established by our courts and this season is a perfect time for neighbours to demonstrate compassion for each other's religions or lack of faith.
This week, may the joy of Mardi Gras and the beginning of Lent illuminate your path forward, not only for yourself but for the community shaped by your decisions.
With gratitude, I wish you a safe, healthy, and compassionate forty days.
Dr. Emmy Ann Horstkamp, JD Chief of the United States Senator of Georgia, Head of the Roman Catholic Church, Sovereign Empress Emmy
