Lenten Prayer for Transforma on
Loving Father, I invite you into my life today and make myself available to you. Help me to become the-best-version-of-myself by seeking your will and becoming a living example of your love in the world. Open my heart to the areas of my life that need to change in order for me to carry out the mission and experience the joy you have imagined for my life. Inspire me to live the Catholic faith in ways that are dynamic and engaging. Show me how to best get involved in the life of my parish. Make our community hungry for best prac ces and con nuous learning. Give me courage when I am afraid, hope when I am discouraged, and clarity in mes of decision. Teach me to enjoy uncertainty and lead your Church to become all you imagined it would be for the people of our mes. Amen.
"God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer." - Mother Teresa
Abstaining from Meat -- Catholics over 14 years of age are bound to the obliga on of abs nence. Abs nence is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays of Lent. On days of abs nence, meat may not be used at all.
Fas ng -- Catholics over 18 and up to the beginning of their 60th year are bound to the obliga on of fas ng. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are the days of fas ng. On As we start the journey of Lent, with its emphasis on these days, only one full meal is allowed. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to fas ng, prayer, and almsgiving, we have a chance at maintain strength, may be taken according to each one’s needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. Ea ng between meals is not permi ed, but liq- a new beginning in our own lives. uids, including milk and fruit juices are allowed.
Whether it is fas ng, abstaining or other acts of penance, the whole desire we should have is to use these means to help us grow closer to our Lord and prepare ourselves "to celebrate the paschal mystery with minds and hearts renewed. As we look ahead to our Lenten journey, may our fas ng be a hunger for jus ce, our almsgiving, Grow with these Lenten Opportuni es! a making of peace, and our prayers the change of humble and grateful hearts. We ask for God’s help to put our faith into ac on, to work in love and to persevere in hope through our Lord Jesus Symbolon—The Catholic Faith Explained is a stunning video series that Christ, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. systema cally presents the BIG picture of the Catholic Faith. Filmed on This Lent our community will par cipate in Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl, a loca on in Rome, the Holy Land, Calcu a, and in the Augus ne Ins - faith-in-ac on program that will help you experience Lenten spirituality of living tute studios in Denver, dozens of na onally-known teachers clearly in solidarity with people in need around the world as well as locally. Be sure to present the beauty and brilliance of Catholicism. The next discussion visit crsricebowl.org to watch videos of the people and communi es whose lives will be on Wednesday, March 11, at 7-8:30 p.m., St. Elizabeth Parish your Lenten gi s are changing through CRS Rice Bowl. You can pick up your Rice Center. Topic: The Mass. All are welcome! Preview video on Formed! Bowl in the gathering space. Your Rice Bowl offering will be collected at our Holy Living Sta ons of The Cross—Presented by Apple Valley Catholic Collabora ve middle Thursday Mass. school students. Friday, March 13, 7:00 p.m., St. Isidore Church. Appropriate for all ages. The Light Is On For You—Last year we celebrated the Sacraments of Reconcilia on during Lent All are welcome. "The Light is on for You" at St. Isidore from 5:30 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. This year the Sacrament of Recon- cilia on will be held at St. Elizabeth from 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. on the following dates: Evening With The Lord— Friday, March 20, 6-9 p.m., St. Isidore Church— We will gather for a light Lenten dinner followed by Taizé prayer which includes song, silence and quiet reflec on, individual March 4: Eucharis c Adora on 5:00 p.m.-7:00, Confessions 5:30 p.m. -7:00 p.m. prayer ministry and concluding with night prayer. Dinner will be served in the hall at 6:00 p.m. March 11 - Confessions 5:30 p.m. -7:00 p.m. March 25 - Confession 5:30 p.m. -7:00 p.m. April 1 - Eucharis c Adora on 5:00 p.m.—7:00, Confessions 5:30 p.m. -7:00 p.m. Lenten Retreat ~ Who do you say that I am: The Great Story of Jesus” - Take a sacred pause in your
Lenten journey to reflect on the Great Story of Jesus: why he came, how he came, his life, his death, “The Confessional is not a torture chamber, but the place in which the Lord’s his resurrec on and ascension, and his invita on for each person to encounter him in order to make mercy mo vates us to do be er.” Pope Francis the choice to follow him in the midst of his Church. Saturday, April 4, 9 a.m.—3:30 p.m., lunch & re- Adult Gospel Reflec on Drop In —Sundays, 9:30-10:30 a.m., St. Elizabeth Parish, Room 4. freshments included. St. Elizabeth Parish Hall. Please register with [email protected] no later than March 28. Cost is $25. Registra on is limited to 35 par cipants and will close a er the max Apple Valley Lenten Food Drive— Collec on for St. Martha’s Food Pantry, Lawrence, MA. Lists is reached or March 28 whichever comes first. Please see Diahne Goodwin with other ques ons. of needed items will be distributed a er all Masses at both churches on Saturday & Sunday 2/29 -3/1. Please bring your dona ons to Mass with you either on Saturday or Sunday the following The Eucharist is the secret of my day. It gives strength and meaning to all my ac vi es of service weekend, 3/7-3/8. Food will be delivered to the pantry the week of March 15. to the Church and to the world.” Pope Saint John Paul II Lenten Online Resources Holy Thursday—April 9, St. Elizabeth We invite you to spend some me reflec ng using any of these online resources: Good Friday—April 10, St. Isidore Holy Thursday Mass, 7:30 p.m. Liturgy of the Hours, 9:00 a.m., Adora on of the Blessed Sacrament Formed—Books, audio talks, movies, documentaries. Go to h ps://formed.org/ Sta ons of the Cross, 3:00 p.m. 11:40 p.m. Night Prayer, Parish Center signup and put in: Apple Valley Catholic Community where it asks you to find Celebra on of the Lord’s Passion your Parish then enter your email address. 7:30 p.m.
Loyola Press - Daily 3- Minute Retreat Holy Saturday—April 11, St. Elizabeth Spend some quiet me reflec ng on a Scripture passage. Easter Masses—April 12 Liturgy of the Hours, 9:00 a.m. h ps://www.loyolapress.com/3-minute-retreats-daily-online-prayer 8:45 a.m.—St. Isidore With blessing of Easter Food 10:15 a.m.—St. Elizabeth Dynamic Catholic’s “Best Lent Ever” (No confessions today) Noon—St. Elizabeth Easter Vigil, 7:30 p.m. is a free email program h ps://dynamiccatholic.com/best-lent-ever that will guide you on an incredible 40-day journey to become the-best -version-of-yourself, making this a truly life-changing Lent.