During the season of Lent, the Church asks us to spend more time in intentional prayer, to fast and abstain from meat on designated days, and to practice charitable giving. Recalling Jesus' 40-day fast in the wilderness, we believe that our consistent participation in these practices deepens our spiritual lives by stripping away all that is unnecessary and reminding us of our sole reliance on God.
PRAYING
Throughout Lent, we are called to deepen our pray life. Opportunities for prayer include praying the rosary daily, going to daily Mass, receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation, reading a devotional, attending Evening Prayer and Stations of the Cross, and spending time in prayer with the Blessed Sacrament in the Adoration Chapel.
FASTING
The discipline of fasting helps us recognize our true hunger for Christ and to seek a closer relationship with Him. It becomes more than exercising self-control. It is a reminder of our abundance, in comparison to those in the world who struggle daily with hunger and starvation. Fasting can also take the form of abstinence of "noise" in our busy culture. We can fast from television, social media, and consumer items.
ALMSGIVING
When Jesus encouraged us to help our neighbor, He meant anyone who suffers, be that of loneliness, sickness, or poverty. As stewardship reminds us, our material goods are just the beginning of real Christian giving. We are called to give or ourselves, of our time, and to others in need. Almsgiving opportunities are all around us. For example, we can give to the food banks, donate our gently-used clothes and household items, give funds to a charitable organization, and visit or write a note to our shut-ins and those in our nursing homes.
PRAYING
Throughout Lent, we are called to deepen our pray life. Opportunities for prayer include praying the rosary daily, going to daily Mass, receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation, reading a devotional, attending Evening Prayer and Stations of the Cross, and spending time in prayer with the Blessed Sacrament in the Adoration Chapel.
FASTING
The discipline of fasting helps us recognize our true hunger for Christ and to seek a closer relationship with Him. It becomes more than exercising self-control. It is a reminder of our abundance, in comparison to those in the world who struggle daily with hunger and starvation. Fasting can also take the form of abstinence of "noise" in our busy culture. We can fast from television, social media, and consumer items.
ALMSGIVING
When Jesus encouraged us to help our neighbor, He meant anyone who suffers, be that of loneliness, sickness, or poverty. As stewardship reminds us, our material goods are just the beginning of real Christian giving. We are called to give or ourselves, of our time, and to others in need. Almsgiving opportunities are all around us. For example, we can give to the food banks, donate our gently-used clothes and household items, give funds to a charitable organization, and visit or write a note to our shut-ins and those in our nursing homes.
2020 Lenten Commitment
The Stewardship of Prayer 2020 Flyer gives examples of opportunities for Praying, Fasting, and Almsgiving that adults, teens, and children can offer to the Lord this Lent. Please review these suggestions in preparation for Mass on Ash Wednesday, February 26, 2020, when we will receive and complete our individual Lenten Commitment Cards and place them on the altar.
Filling out and submitting a Lenten Commitment Card is a commitment you make to God alone. When you submit your card at Mass, it will stay in the basket on the altar throughout the entire Lenten season. Each week, our parish will pray a general petition for the commitments made and the special intentions. Only you and God will know what's in your heart!
Filling out and submitting a Lenten Commitment Card is a commitment you make to God alone. When you submit your card at Mass, it will stay in the basket on the altar throughout the entire Lenten season. Each week, our parish will pray a general petition for the commitments made and the special intentions. Only you and God will know what's in your heart!
Pray + Fast + Give
