Lenten Opportunities and Services

Lent 2025: What does your soul need to “Lean In” to?

CLICK HERE for All Lenten Opportunities and Resources among Oak Park Parishes

LENTEN OPPORTUNITIES
ASCENSION AND ST. EDMUND PARISH
ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA – ST. LUCY AND ST. GILES PARISH

REFLECTION – FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT – The image above, created by parishioner Fran Gregory, has been the visual representation of our focus for Lent this year. Every Lent, we enter the desert and meditate on what those deserts are in our own lives. But this Lent, we have been reflecting on a different image within the desert – the renewal that can be found, the oasis of flowing water to which those preparing for Baptism are journeying, the spring of peace and reconciliation found within the cross. This week, we are reminded in the first reading that God’s law is written on our hearts – that this spring of renewal is found within us, closer than our closest companion. If we quiet ourselves we will find that God is there, waiting. Let us find space for that quiet as we draw ever closer to Holy Week.REFLECTION – FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT – “Whoever lives in truth comes to the light.” The imagery of light and dark runs deeply through this Sunday’s Gospel reading. As we reach the halfway point of Lent, Laetare Sunday, how have we come to the light? The question is a good reminder for us. So often at the beginning of Lent we are fired up – ready to enter the desert with Jesus, ready to find the oasis of renewal we so desperately need. But now, as we continue on ever closer to Jerusalem and Holy Week, perhaps we are tired. Have we allowed the world to creep in around us? Have we been discouraged by the darkness we see there? Let us this week renew our souls and take some time to once again live in truth and light. God’s mercy will meet us there.

REFLECTION – THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT – Today, we hear God deliver the Ten Commandments to Moses and the Chosen People. The commandments provided a way for them to participate in their part of God’s covenant. We also are in relationship with God today. Lent is a wonderful opportunity to examine our consciences, recall times when we have failed to follow one of God’s commands and determine which commandments we consistently struggle with. Particularly during this season of reconciliation and renewal, let us take a breath, repent of our sins, reconcile with God and those we’ve wronged, and pray for the grace to do better. Reconciliation can truly be an oasis for our soul. Who am I invited to reconcile with this Lent? How can my relationships be founded more on love than on reciprocation?

REFLECTION – SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT – Every year, the second Sunday of Lent tells us the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus. This year, in the version we hear from the Gospel of Mark, Peter says: “It is good, Lord, that we are here.” What an understatement! The disciples experience a mountaintop moment – a moment of clarity before heading down the mountain to more difficult pathways. When has God provided you with a “mountaintop moment”? How did it renew your spirit? How can you take some time this week to reconnect and renew?

The season of Lent continues – a time when, in the midst of the chaos of the world, we are called to stop and listen: to each other and to God. Rather than being driven from one crisis to the next, we are called to “Lean in” to Lent: to re-engage, re-connect, and embrace the foundations of our relationships with God – and with each other.

REFLECTION FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT – Peter says in the Gospel today: “It is good, Lord, that we are here.” The disciple’s eyes were opened to the Christ. Let’s try to open our own eyes just a little more this week. Can we be truly present to the Christ in those around us? How might we lean in to love and listen more and more each day?

REFLECTION FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT – This week we enter the desert, an arid place, seemingly desolate, but in reality full of resilient life. How will we embrace the desert in our own lives? Can the desert be a place of solace, a place that gives us the space to lean in to our relationship with God?

ADDITIONAL LENTEN OFFERINGS NOT POSTED ON THIS PAGE AT THIS TIME – “Lean in” to some of the practices and events that will create space for you to connect with others, and with God: Stations of the Cross at a different church each week; reconciliation services; meditation; faith sharing; and other prayer and reflection groups, including Adoration – We will be updating this page with upcoming Lenten Offerings once they are available to be published!

PATH OF PRAYER BOOKLET

At both St. Catherine of Siena – St. Lucy and St. Giles worship sites, you will be able to pick up, or use the PDF file below, our path of prayer booklet with reflections written by our parishioners for each day of Lent – Take a few minutes each morning to reflect and be renewed.

Path of Prayer – Reflection Booklet (PDF)

LENT PRAYER PACKAGES

Are you unable to be at church in person? Do you know someone who is homebound? – Lent Prayer Packages will be available to bring to loved ones starting Tuesday evening at both parish churches. Please take one and deliver it to anyone who might need it! Take some time to visit and connect with your neighbors.

NATIONAL NOVENA FOR MIGRANTS AND IMMIGRANTS – MARCH 14-22

National Novena for Migrants and Immigrants
March 14-22 at 12 pm CT – Online

9 Days of Prayer led by 9 Bishops

Migration is the story of humanity, from the many accounts in Scripture to the migrants seeking better lives today.

Join CTU for 9 days of prayer and reflection on the dignity of migrants.

MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION – MONDAYS – MARCH 17, 24, 31 AND APRIL 7

Draw closer to the Lord, this Lent through the silence of Eucharistic Adoration on Mondays from 4 to 9 pm at St. Edmund Church.

LENTEN EVENINGS OF REFLECTION AND PRAYER – MARCH 18, 26 AND APRIL 3, 11

Lenten Evening of Reflection: Lean in to Love – Tuesday, March 18 at 7 PM in St. Giles Site – McDonough Hall

Maryanne Colter from Braver Angels will lead us in reflection on practicing deep listening and connection in a divided world.

Future prayer and reflection of different topics with different speakers in McDonough Hall at St. Giles Campus:

Wednesday, March 26 at 5:30 PM – Lean in to Discipleship led by Fr. Bob. Hutmacher, OFM – Soup Supper followed by discussion!
Thursday, April 3 at 7:00 PM – Lean in to Life led by Kevin Cassidy
Friday, April 11 at 7:00 PM – Lean in to the Cross – Stations of the Cross through the Eyes of Mary led by the women of St. Catherine – St. Lucy and St. Giles CCW

HEALING PRAYER, HEALING SONG – MARCH 20

Join us on Thursday evening, March 20, at 7:30 PM at Ascension Church for Healing Prayer, Healing Song – This is a newer ecumenical prayer outreach for our Oak Park community. The service includes scripture, healings songs and prayers from various traditions, shared silence, and the opportunity for individual prayer, laying on of hands, and anointing.

A special “Healing Choir” provides musical support and songs of healing at the service. Additionally, an ecumenical and multi-cultural prayer team of pastors and other pastoral care ministers assist in this ecumenical outreach of prayers for healing, wholeness, and unity in our world.

As an ecumenical service, we recognize the unifying power of Christians from different traditions, ethnicities, and races to join as one, to intentionally pray for the healing of division and for a deepening of unity in our world. The service will also be livestreamed on March 20 – CLICK TO WATCH

For more information, contact David Anderson at d.anderson@ascensionoakpark.com – Ascension Church is located at 808 S. East Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60304.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY

Come to a Bible Study on Wednesdays at 7 pm in the St. Giles Parish Center Living Room (1025 Columbian Avenue) or participate over Zoom – We are studying CS Lewis’ classic: “The Screwtape Letters”.

All are welcome – It is NOT necessary or required to attend each week… Come when you can!!

Please contact Maria Samatas (msamatas@me.com) or Alex Ryan (alexryan@stgilesparish.org) to get all the information – We’ll be sending out study guides, including bible verses / chapters that will be referenced as well as questions to ponder and discuss together.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS – FRIDAYS

Stations of the Cross through the Eyes of Mary

Friday, March 22 at 7 pm at St. Giles Church

This week’s stations of the Cross follow the perspective of Mary as she accompanies her Son on his journey to the Cross. The Council of Catholic Women hosts these beautiful reflections that will open our eyes in a new way to the connections between His journey and ours.

Come, accompany Jesus on the way of the Cross!

RENEWAL THROUGH PRAYER

Have you noticed purple paper strips in the churches? – This Lent, you will find strips of paper by baskets in our churches – Prayer renews our soul, changing our hearts and connecting us with God.

Is there something in particular you are praying this Lent? – Take a few moments and write an intention that is close to your heart. Place it in the basket, offering it to God. If you wish, please take an intention that someone else has left and pray for it throughout the week. In this way, we will renew our connection with God and with each other through prayer.

NEW SERVICE OPPORTUNITY FOR LENT – OAK PARK FAMILY TRANSITIONAL SHELTER

We began housing asylum seekers from the Carleton Hotel and the YMCA at the new Oak Park Family Transitional Shelter in the former St. Edmunds School building. Our goal is to assist our Guests in transitioning out of the Shelter to next step rental housing and work with the critical help of the Resettlement Task Force. We need volunteer help, particularly during the next week or two, before our temporary paid staff is onboarded.

CLICK to Sign Up as a Volunteer

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION – THURSDAY – MARCH 20, 27 AND APRIL 3, 10

Try making Adoration a part of your Lenten routine, held between 7 pm and 8 pm on Thursday evenings at St. Giles Church – Even if you have never been to Adoration before – all are always welcome to spend some time in the presence of Christ. Come and renew your connection to our Source of light.

“The time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time that you will spend on earth. Each moment that you spend with Jesus will deepen your union with Him and make your soul everlastingly more glorious and beautiful in heaven, and will help bring about an everlasting peace on earth.” – St. Teresa of Calcutta

STATIONS OF THE CROSS – FRIDAYS – MARCH 21, 19 AND APRIL 4, 11

Friday, March 21 at 7 pm at St. Catherine of Siena – St. Lucy Church

Stations of the Cross will be followed by a time of prayer, praise and Eucharistic Adoration, led by the Praise Choir of St. Catherine – St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish.

Future Stations of the Cross – Every Friday evening during Lent:

March 28 – 7:00 PM at St. Edmund Church – Stations of the Cross
April 4 – 7:00 PM at St. Giles Church – Stations of the Cross
April 4 – 7:30 PM at Ascension Church – Taizé Prayer around the Cross
April 11 – 7:00 PM at St. Giles Church – Stations of the Cross Through the Eyes of Mary

HALLOW APP PRAYER

Do you have a smartphone? Hallow, the #1 Catholic prayer app, is offering a 90 day free trial this Season, giving FREE access to all of Hallow’s prayer content.

Hallow includes prayers for kids and families, resources for mental health, meditations for sleep, seasonal music, multiple languages (including Spanish, Portuguese, and Polish!) daily trivia, podcast-style courses to learn more about faith, and more! We will be highlighting different aspects of the app as we journey through Lent.

To Hallow Website – Lent 2025

OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY – VINE & BRANCHES – PLASTIC COLLECTION

We can all help to lessen the amount of plastic that goes to the landfills and here is how the Catholic parishes of Oak Park are responding.

The Trex Corporation is challenging groups to collect plastic which will be used to produce some of the many items they make. It’s not often that our actions have such positive results, i.e. putting less plastic in landfills and our oceans as well as creating useful recycled products. The Catholic parishes of Oak Park are participating in this drive as members of the Interfaith Green Network which joined this project several years ago and has earned 10 benches for our local community.

During Lent there will be containers for those plastic items that Trex accepts. The vestibules of Saint Giles, Saint Catherine-Saint Lucy, Ascension and Saint Edmund churches, and the first floor of the Corrigan building on Linden will each have a large cardboard bin. The goal is to collect 1,000 pounds of plastic for which Trex will give us an attractive outdoor bench. Let’s make this happen!

CLEAN Items that are accepted: plastic grocery bags, garbage bags , bread bags, plastic overwrap, newspaper sleeves, bubble wrap, air pockets, and any plastics labeled #2 or #4.

If you are interested to help, contact Sister Sue at spaweski@spsmw.org.

OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY – BLANKETS AND MATTRESS PADS COLLECTION

Blankets and Mattress Pads are Needed to Warm Our Neighbors – Please donate your unneeded blankets, fleece, mattress pads so that the Sleeping Bag Ministry can line sleeping backs to warm our homeless neighbors in Austin. Completed sleeping bags are distributed through the Fraternite Notre Dame sisters. Your donations make a difference!

Please contact Pat Henek at pdhenek@gmail.com or Mary Vostal at maryvostal@gmail.com to arrange a drop-off or collection.

OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY – EASTER SUNRISE SHOEBOXES

Shoeboxes collected will be donated to the Franciscan Outreach Organization and Housing Forward – Collection will start on Ash Wednesday, March 5, and end on Palm Sunday, April 13

Fill a shoebox or a comparable-size container (you provide the container) with a variety of personal size items. These are just a few suggestions: Tube socks, Kleenex (small packages), Plastic Rain Poncho, Wash / Face Cloth, Toothbrush / Toothpaste, Baby Powder, Hand Sanitizer, Hotel Size – Soap and Shampoo, Brush and / or Comb, Deodorant, Small Towel, Razor, Hand Lotion, Other small items, and Gift Card from McDonald’s, Burger King, etc. (not to exceed $10)

Please be sure to include these items: Word Search or Crossword Puzzle Book with Pen or Pencil, some wrapped Easter candy, and candy, also gallon sized freezer bags (1-3) to carry these items.

When your shoebox is filled (you can decorate it if you choose to do so) put a rubber band around it. Mark the box either “Man” or “Woman.” Place your shoebox in the designated area in your church. They can also be placed on the back pews in the Gathering Space at Saint Giles Church or dropped off at Saint Giles Parish Center. During Holy Week the boxes will be delivered to the organizations so that they may be distributed at Easter time.

Thank you for caring and participating! – Know that your work of mercy will make a difference in someone’s life!

Any questions, please contact Barb Schulz at 773-622-2121.

LENTEN REGULATIONS

From March 5, 2025 (Ash Wednesday) to the Paschal Triduum

Abstinence from meat is to be observed by all Catholics 14 years old and older on Ash Wednesday and on all the Fridays of Lent. Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59. Those who are bound by this may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength according to one’s needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted. The special Paschal fast, as well as abstinence, are prescribed for Good Friday and encouraged for Holy Saturday.

SPANISH – Abstinencia: Todos los católicos mayores de 14 años, deben abstenerse de comer carne el Miércoles de Ceniza y todos los viernes de Cuaresma. El Ayuno debe ser observado el Miércoles de Ceniza por todos los católicos que han-cumplido los dieciocho (18) años pero no han llegado a los cincuenta y nueve (59). Estas personas sólo pueden hacer una comida completa, y dos comidas pequeñas si son necesarias para mantener las fuerzas, de acuerdo a las necesidades individuales, pero no se permite alimento sólido entre las comidas. El ayuno así como la abstinencia Pascual especial obliga el Viernes Santo y es recomendada en el Sábado Santo también.

“Lent is ordered to preparing for the celebration of Easter, since the Lenten liturgy prepares for celebration of the Paschal Mystery both catechumens, by the various stages of Christian Initiation, and the faithful, who recall their own Baptism and do penance.” (Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year, #27)

By the threefold discipline of fasting, almsgiving and prayer the church keeps Lent from Ash Wednesday until the evening of Holy Thursday. All of the faithful and the catechumens should undertake the serious practice of these three traditions. Failure to observe penitential days totally or a substantial number of such days must be considered serious.

“(On) weekdays of Lent, we strongly recommend participation in daily Mass and self-imposed observances of fasting. In light of grave human needs which weigh on the Christian conscience in all seasons, we urge particularly during Lent, generosity to local, national and world programs of sharing of all things needed to translate our duty to penance into a means of implementing the right of the poor to their part of our abundance.” (U.S. Bishops statement on penitential observances, 1966)