Lent is a season of deep renewal. God’s Spirit is moving and up to something new in our lives this Lenten season: promising new life, new heart, and new vision. Join our whole parish community during this Lenten season to discern how God’s Spirit is moving for us:
- What is God up to within our parish community? In your personal life? In our world?
- How are all of us being invited to grow in love and union with God and others?
Why are our regular announcements at Mass cut short this Lent? – After communion at most Masses during Lent, instead of announcements, different members of the parish will be sharing brief thoughts about their faith journey, and their response to the themes of each week. Through this faith sharing, we hope to grow closer together as a community, and be inspired by the unique way God works in each of our lives.
Weekly In-Person or Virtual Activities / Participation during Lent – JOIN US!
- Easter Sunrise Shoeboxes – February 22 through April 2 – MORE INFORMATION
- Commemorative Easter Flowers – Ongoing through April 7 – MORE INFORMATION
- Wednesday Night Bible Study – March 29 at St. Giles Site – MORE INFORMATION
- Thursday Eucharistic Adoration – March 30 at 7 pm at St. Giles Church – MORE INFORMATION
- Stations of the Cross – March 31 at 6:30 pm at St. Edmund – MORE INFORMATION
- Follow the Way of the Cross Through the Eyes of Mary – March 31 at 7 pm at St. Giles – MORE INFORMATION
- Friday Rosary on Zoom – March 31 at 7 pm over Zoom – MORE INFORMATION
Weekly Themes and Reflections during Lent
On this Lenten Season, we invite you to join with others in an existing group, find a dialogue partner, or even consider calling together a group of friends to reflect on and discuss this week’s theme together in person, on phone, via zoom, or via email – Need help finding a partner? Email us at together@stgilesparish.org.
- Week 1 (Feb 26 – Mar 4) – Signs of Lent – ASHES – This penitential symbol has its roots in the Old Testament books of Esther, Samuel, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, and is a reminder of the impermanence of our earthly life. The ashes are made from the burning of blessed palms (from Palm Sunday the year before) and are placed on our foreheads in the form of a cross: it is Jesus who we follow; it is in Jesus that we are saved from our sins; and through Jesus we are given eternal life.
- Week 1 (Feb 26 – Mar 4) – Theme – WHOSE VOICE DO YOU HEAR?
REFLECTION – Before Jesus enters the desert and faces temptation, he hears the voice of God from the heavens, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Only in remembering our fundamental identity as God’s beloved can we recognize the temptations, obstacles and challenges that can drown out God’s life-giving Spirit and our true calling. In our life, we are bombarded by many voices: God’s is the voice of gentle invitation and love that draws us more fully into community with one another.
QUESTIONS – As we begin our journey of discernment, reflect: Have there been times in your life when you have felt beloved? What are the obstacles – habits and patterns in your life, ways of thinking and being and relating – to your living more deeply in union with God’s presence and Spirit in your life?
Week 1 – Lenten Reflections – Readings – Questions (PDF)
- Week 2 (March 5-11) – Signs of Lent – Why don’t we sing The Gloria or Alleluia during Lent? – The Gloria is a song of exaltation and joy, while the Alleluia is the highest form of praise. Lent, in contrast, is a penitential season. “Alleluia” is not said at mass during Lent, either during the gospel acclamation or in hymns. We “fast” from Alleluia as a reminder that we are on a journey towards Easter – when we will break forth our greatest praise!
- Week 2 (March 5-11) – Theme – HOW WILL YOU BE TRANSFORMED?
REFLECTION – In our lives, we are occasionally gifted by God with a glimpse of what is possible. All too briefly, our eyes are opened to the often-invisible grace that sustains us and all of life. Such powerful experiences of God call us to journey outward: to new possibilities, new places of service, or new manners of self-gift. With faith, the strength we need to overcome our fears will come from our God.
QUESTIONS – As we continue our journey of discernment, reflect: How has God’s Spirit been stirring in you and perhaps beckoning you to something new? What is the transformation you hope to see in yourself? In our church? In the world?
Week 2 – Lenten Reflections – Readings – Questions (PDF)
- Week 3 (March 12-18) – Signs of Lent – As we enter the third week of Lent – why do we use purple in our liturgical spaces? – The color purple is associated with repentance. In Scripture, we are told that a purple robe was placed on Jesus during the crucifixion, and so purple evokes the pain and suffering of the crucifixion. In ancient times, purple was one of the most expensive colors to manufacture, and was therefore associated with royalty. Even though the purple robe was meant to mock Jesus, we know that Christ reigns over death, and so even during this repentant time we celebrate Christ’s Resurrection and sovereignty.
- Week 3 (March 12-18) – Theme – HOW IS GOD SURPRISING YOU?
REFLECTION – God’s Spirit is always entering our lives in new ways despite our grumbling, our resistances or our self-imposed boundaries. Perhaps, this occurs in surprising experiences or in unexpected encounters with others in our daily life. Often, we would rather stick to the known and comfortable, rather than allow God to lead us somewhere new or to change our ways.
QUESTIONS – As we continue our journey of discernment, reflect: What has been emerging in your life this Lenten season (your daily life, your prayer, your relationships) that has surprised you? How is God entering your life through ways or experiences that you did not expect? How are you being called “from the outside in” through the circumstances you are seeing in your life and the broader world?
Week 3 – Lenten Reflections – Readings – Questions (PDF)
- Week 4 (March 19-25) – Signs of Lent – Laetare Sunday – Fourth Sunday of Lent – This weekend is Laetare Sunday, a celebratory day in the more austere season of Lent. Laetare Sunday is always the fourth Sunday of Lent. It comes from the Latin introit for the day, “Laetare Jerusalem,” which means Rejoice, O Jerusalem. We catch a glimpse of the Easter hope and joy! On this day, the Priest may wear rose instead of purple and flowers may be placed on the altar. Let us rejoice in the coming of our salvation!
- Week 4 (March 19-25) – Theme – HOW CAN WE SEE DIFFERENTLY?
REFLECTION – We do not see as God sees. God anoints the unexpected – the youngest of Jesse’s sons, surprising even Samuel. Our biases can cause us to overlook others and fail to recognize the quiet ways God is leading us. But- just as Jesus opens the eyes of the blind man, we too begin to see in new ways through our relationship with the Good Shepherd. We begin to recognize the many gifts in our midst, particularly among the people present in our lives.
QUESTIONS – As we continue our journey of discernment, reflect: How is God calling you through others and through your relationships? Who are those in your life that have gifts and talents to share that need to be affirmed and supported? How can Jesus’ healing and companionship help us to unleash the gifts and talents of those in our community?
Week 4 – Lenten Reflections – Readings – Questions (PDF)
- Week 5 (March 26 – April 1) – Signs of Lent – The Penitential Rite – All through Lent, we have been singing the Penitential Rite at all of our Masses. The Penitential Rite is one of the first prayers of the Mass. We pray the Confiteor and reflect on those things we wish we had done better during the week, bringing them to God. Following this, by singing the words: Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, (Lord have Mercy, Christ have Mercy, Lord have Mercy) – we use our whole body and truly open our hearts to God’s mercy. Then, reconciled with God, we can more deeply enter into the liturgy.
- Week 5 (March 26 – April 1) – Theme – WHERE DO WE FIND LIFE?
REFLECTION – Fear, weariness and exhaustion can make us feel dry and lifeless. We may feel that we have nothing. But God calls: “I will put my Spirit in you, that you may come to life,” we hear from the prophet, Ezekiel. “If only the Spirit of Christ dwells in you…,” encourages the Apostle Paul. Jesus calls to Lazarus: “Come out!” Through the mercy of Jesus, we see that all manner of new life is possible when we live in God’s Spirit, which conquers even death.
QUESTIONS – As we draw ever nearer to Holy Week, reflect: What might living in God’s Spirit mean and make possible… in me, in others, and in our parish community? What does it look like for the Spirit of Christ to come alive and dwell in and among us? What are we being led to become and to do?
Week 5 – Lenten Reflections – Readings – Questions (PDF)
- “Hallow” Prayer App – Do you have a smartphone? St. Catherine of Siena – St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish has partnered with Hallow, the #1 Catholic prayer app this Season to provide every parishioner FREE access to all of Hallow’s prayer content – Our Free Parish Subscription is St. Catherine-St. Lucy-St. Giles
- Did you know you can fall asleep to a prayer meditation on the Hallow App? Try praying the sleep examen, Lenten night prayer, or a sleep meditation. Go to the Nightly Routines section on the app.
- Did you know you could set up prayer groups on Hallow? Our parish has partnered with Hallow this season to provide every parishioner FREE access to all of Hallow’s prayer content. Go to the three circles on the top right hand corner of the app. Create a group with your friends or join the parish group with the code: W531PJ
- Did you know Hallow had Daily Catholic Trivia? Can you answer all 5 questions correctly? Or, sign up to join the #Pray40 Challenge Part II – diving into the Stations of the Cross. Once you have downloaded the app and signed up, you can also join the St. Catherine St. Lucy St. Giles prayer group – click the three circles on the top right corner of the app and enter code: W531PJ
- 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.
How to Sign Up for the FREE Parish Subscription (PDF)
Books for Lenten Inspiration
- Life of the Beloved by Nouwen – This spiritual classic began as a simple request from one friend to another for a book explaining the spiritual life in terms that he and his friends could understand. Nouwen’s answer has become one of the most cherished books of our era. “All I want to say to you is, ‘You are the Beloved.'”
- Radical Hospitality – Benedict’s way of Love by Homan and Pratt – Deep within the heart of Benedictine spirituality lies a remedy to hatred, fear, and suspicion: hospitality. At once deeply comforting and sharply challenging, true Benedictine hospitality requires that we welcome the stranger, not only into our homes, but into our hearts.
- Could God be calling you to a new form of reflection or prayer this season?
- Sign up for the Ignatian series – Finding God in the Chaos. You can get daily reflections over email. Take some time each day and have a mini-retreat. It’s not too late!
- Questions about these Virtual Spiritual Practices? – Please contact John Hynes at 708-227-2109 or jhynes1124@gmail.com for more information.
- Tuesday, February 28, 2023 – 7:30-8:15 pm
Buddha and Jesus
CLICK FOR ZOOM MEETING
Meeting ID: 841 6992 9600 – Passcode: 952505 - Daily from February 28 thru March 6, 2023 – 8:30-9 am
Centering Prayer
CLICK FOR ZOOM MEETING
Meeting ID: 847 5631 1416 – Passcode: 419148 - Weekly on Wednesday from March 1 thru April 12, 2023 – 8-8:45 pm
The Wisdom of Richard Rohr
CLICK FOR ZOOM MEETING
Meeting ID: 838 5681 5886 – Passcode: 073382 - Weekly on Thursday from March 2 thru April 13, 2023 – 7:30-8:15 pm
The Wisdom of Ronald Rohlheiser
CLICK FOR ZOOM MEETING
Meeting ID: 853 5004 6605 – Passcode: 945075 - Saturday, March 4, 2023 – 10-10:45 am
Teachings on Centering Prayer
CLICK FOR ZOOM MEETING
Meeting ID: 867 9916 2929 – Passcode: 525690 - Weekly on Sunday from March 5 thru April 16, 2023 – 7-7:45 pm
The Wisdom of Thomas Keating
CLICK FOR ZOOM MEETING
Meeting ID: 870 1638 7102 – Passcode: 535460 - Tuesday, March 7, 2023 – 10-10:45 am
The Revolutionary Love Training Course: How to Love Others, Our Opponents and Ourselves with Valarie Kaur
CLICK FOR ZOOM MEETING
Meeting ID: 858 9792 3460 – Passcode: 313211 - Thursday, March 9, 2023 – 10-10:45 am
Book Discussion – The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture by Gabor Maté, MD
CLICK FOR ZOOM MEETING
Meeting ID: 867 7558 0252 – Passcode: 937356 - Monday, March 13, 2023 – 7-7:45 pm
Monday with the Mystics
CLICK FOR ZOOM MEETING
Meeting ID: 811 0269 5895 – Passcode: 077493
- At all worship sites, you will be able to pick up The Little Black Book with reflections for each day of Lent. Take a few minutes each morning to reflect and listen.
- Buttons and stickers will be available for you to take home, put on your bag, your water bottle, your coat – as a reminder to be open to the voice of God this Lent. Pick the one that speaks most to you!
- Fasting – On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, those who are 18 but not yet 60 are allowed only one full meal. Two smaller meals are allowed as needed, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.
- Abstinence from Meat – Those who are 14 years of age or older are to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent.
