Each year the season of Lent invites us to dive deeper into our faith. This season is one of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It reminds us that our faith is meant to be lived and that we are blessed on the journey of life to walk with a God who uniquely knows what it means to be human. In Jesus, God became human and in Lent, we sit with our own humanity and draw closer to the Living God who longs to be in deeper union with us.
That union is beautifully captured in the paschal mystery of our faith—the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus— that we remember especially in the Triduum. Yet, before we can come to these momentous days of Holy Week and Easter, we must first make our annual Lenten journey.
This year as a Collaborative our theme for this Lenten journey comes from Psalm 51: “Renew a Steadfast Spirit within Us.” (Psalm 51:12b)
In a day and age when many things may weigh heavily on us, the invitation of Lent is to find renewal and deepening of our faith. We pray in these days that we might be washed clean of our faults and reconciled in our relationships with God and with one another. We pray that we might find restoration in God, the One who walks with us as we journey, who knows our hearts and loves us all the more.
As the psalmist prays, “My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn.”(v.19) Indeed, God welcomes us in this season of Lent to come home to the heart of who we are—to be and become beloved children of God who live out our faith, giving praise to the One who made us by reflect Christ’s love in the world.
To do that, we will need renewed spirits… spirits that rest in God and are firmly grounded in the faith we profess. As a community we pray for such renewal, both as individuals and as a Collaborative. To aid the Holy Spirit’s work in us, St. John- St. Paul will offer an array of programs this Lent. Our prayer is that in these offerings each of us may find something to spur our spirits on, so that with contrite hearts we may rejoice in the goodness of God that is with us each day and that is recalled especially at Easter.
Christ calls us to renewal here and now, may the days ahead stir up into flames the offering of our spirits and renew the face of the earth as we find renewal in the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!
Lenten Opportunities for Renewal
Mark your calendars – we’ll have a complete list of programs and events with more details soon!
Question of the Week – in the bulletin and on the website each week and at every Sunday Mass
Fridays throughout Lent: Stations of the Cross following the 9:00AM Mass at St. Paul with Reconciliation available
Tuesdays, 7-8PM: “Practicing Lent” Series by Young Adult Ministry (St. Paul Blessed Sacrament Chapel)
Sunday, March 1, 10-11AM: Family Faith Formation Lenten Retreat for Mustard Seeds (K-2) and Loaves & Fishes (3-5) (St. John)
Tuesday, March 3, 6:30PM: Evening For Women Potluck Prayer & Adoration (St. John Lower Level)
Thursdays, February 26, March 12, and March 26, 7-8:30PM: Catholic Social Teaching with Fr. Ken Himes (Hybrid, Online and In-Person at St. Paul Parish Hall)
Saturday, March 21, 6PM: Theology at the Table, Young Adult Ministry (St. John Rectory)
Tuesday, March 10, 7-8PM: Lenten Loft Book Club: “Struck Down, Not Destroyed” (St. Paul Church Choir Loft)
Friday, March 13, 5PM: Teen Reconciliation Service (St. John )
Wednesday, March 18, 7PM: Taize Reconciliation Service: (St. John)
Monday, March 23, 7PM: Lenten Lecture with Fr. Bryan Hehir (St. John Powers Hall)
Thursday, April 2: Young Adult Seven Churches Pilgrimage, Following Holy Thursday Mass at St. Paul