Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It's a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms; and we practice self-control through fasting. We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully. We recall the waters of baptism in which we were also baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.

Many know of the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, but we are also called to practice self-discipline and fast in other ways throughout the season. Contemplate the meaning and origins of the Lenten fasting tradition in this reflection. In addition, the giving of alms is one way to share God's gifts—not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time and talents. As St. John Chrysostom reminds us: "Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2446).

In Lent, the baptized are called to renew their baptismal commitment as others prepare to be baptized through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, a period of learning and discernment for individuals who have declared their desire to become Catholics.
(Information taken from the USCCB website: What is Lent? | USCCB )       

Click the image for a quick 3 minute video by Busted Halo explaining the significance of the Lenten season of prayer, fasting, and giving, and how you can make the most of this time of repentance and renewal.

Pray with us:

Weekday Mass schedule during Lent:
February 20th & 25th- 5:30pm
February 26th- 12:15pm 
February 27th- 5:30pm
March 6th- 12:15pm followed by First Friday Devotions
March 10th, 13th- 5:30pm
March 16th-19th- 12:15pm
March 20th, 24th, 25th, 27th- 5:30pm
April 1st-5:30pm

Stations of the Cross:

	Stations of the Cross will be prayed each Friday during Lent at 7:00pm in the church. Join us in prayer and reflection on Jesus' final earthly hours.
	Family Stations of the Cross will be prayed March 6th at 7:00pm. A wonderful opportunity to introduce your children to the Stations.
	Virtual Stations of the Cross for those dealing with illness HERE
	Click on the image for Reflections on the Stations with Bishop Barron.
	The following link will take you to Busted Halo's virtual Stations of the Cross.  Virtual Stations of the Cross

Reconciliation During Lent

  Our Parish Communal Penance Service is Tuesday, February 24th at 6:30pm.
  Three other priests will assist Fr. Arturo in hearing confessions.

  Fr. Arturo celebrates the Sacrament of Reconciliation
  each Saturday from 2:30pm-3:30pm.

  There will be NO reconciliation Holy Saturday, April 4th.

Local Penance Services

Fasting during Lent:

Click the photo for a short reflection on Fasting.

Lenten Simplicity Meals: Each Friday in Lent, at 6:00pm, we gather as a parish family to share a simple meal of meatless soup and bread. We also provide peanut butter & jelly for the children. A different parish organization or ministry hosts each week. 

Lenten Meal Almsgiving opportunity.  At each Lenten dinner, a donation basket is located in the dining area. We ask those who partake in the meal to consider donating what they would spend eating a meal out.  All monies collected during these meals are donated to the Fayetteville Area Operation Inasmuch breakfast program. This program feeds the homeless in our local community, treating them with the dignity they deserve. 
These Simplicity Meals are a wonderful opportunity for us to fast from a bigger meal, grow as a community and give alms to our neighbors in need.
The Columbiettes will host the February 20th Simplicity Meal.

Fasting isn't just for food....

      
Almsgiving

Click the image for a quick refresher on Almsgiving.

Lenten Rice Bowls are available in the gathering space. If you did not take one, you can make a donation online at https://seaschurch.weshareonline.org/   CRS Rice Bowl is the Lenten program of Catholic Relief Services, the official relief and development agency of the United Stated Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Through CRS Rice Bowl, faith communities in every diocese throughout the U.S. put their faith into action through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Lenten alms donated through CRS Rice Bowl support the work of CRS in roughly 45 different countries each year. 25% of all donations to CRS Rice Boel stay in ur local diocese, supporting hunger and poverty alleviation. More info at: https:www.crsricebowl.org

Help make our Church beautiful for the Easter season! Donate towards the purchase of flowers that will be used to decorate the Sanctuary for the season of Easter. Flowers can be in honor or memory of a loved one, or monies may just be donated. Use the flower envelopes in your envelope packet, donate on our Weshare online giving site (Weshare Giving), or use a plain white envelope marking on the outside 'Easter Flowers.' Click HERE to see a listing of Memorials/Honorings. The suggested donation is $20.00 per flower.

Additional Lenten resources:

The following link has information and resources for Lent from the USCCB
https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year-and-calendar/lent

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday...                          continues with the Chrism Mass... 
 

Then begins the Triduum:

 The summit of the Liturgical Year is the Easter Triduum—from the evening of Holy     Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. Though chronologically three days, they are   liturgically one day unfolding for us the unity of Christ's Paschal Mystery.
 The single celebration of the Triduum marks the end of the Lenten season, and leads to the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord at the Easter Vigil.






The liturgical services that take place during the Triduum are:

• Mass of the Lord's Supper
• Good Friday of the Lord's Passion
• Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord
  Click the image for a three minute video on Holy Week from Busted Halo   
  

For more information on the Triduum CLICK HERE to link to the USCCB Website

Mass of the Lord's Supper (Holy Thursday)-7:00pm
Holy Thursday begins the Triduum. Mass includes the acceptance of the Blessed oils as well as the washing of the feet.









Following Mass Holy Thursday, the Blessed Sacrament will be in repose until midnight. Please take this opportunity to spend time with our Lord.
St. John Paul II told us: "The Church and the world have a great need of Eucharistic adoration. Jesus waits for us in the Sacrament of love. Let us be generous with our time in going to meet him in adoration and contemplation that is full of faith and ready to make reparation for the great faults and crimes of the world. May our adoration never cease." 
Jesus is asking us, as he did his Apostles, "Could you not keep watch with me for one hour?"

Good Friday of the Lord's Passion
Beginning at noon, the church will be open for the opportunity for prayer and reflection.
The Triduum liturgy continues at 3:00pm. The Passion will be proclaimed, we will have adoration of the Cross, and Eucharist will be distributed.
The church will remain open for prayer.
Stations of the Cross begin at 7:00pm.

     
Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord (Easter Vigil-Holy Saturday)- Mass to begin at 8:00pm.
The Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord begins outside at the fire pit, with the lighting of the Easter Fire and blessing of the Paschal Candle. We welcome into the Church the Elect with Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. 
Please note that there will be no confessions Holy Saturday and no 4:00pm Mass. 

Easter Sunday Masses-
Celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord!
Masses celebrated at
9:00am & 11:30am

Annual Easter Egg Hunt