Lenten Journey: Pray, Sacrifice and Offer

Ash Wednesday Masses Fast and Abstinence February 14th at 9:00am, & 7:00pm The penitential observances for include fasting and

abstaining from meat. Catholics age 14 throughout their

lifetime are obliged to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, the Fridays of Lent and Good Friday. Tuesdays —Mass at 9:00am Catholics from the day after their 18th birthday to the Wednesdays —Mass at 8:30am day after their 59th birthday also are obliged to fast on Thursdays —Mass at 9:00am Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In the Catholic Fridays —Mass at 9:00am tradition, fasting is loosely interpreted. The law allows one full meal only, but does not prohibit the taking of small amounts of food at the other meal times; however, the combined quantity of food taken at the two lighter meals should not exceed the amount at the full meal. Illness releases a person from these rules. PASSION (Palm) Sunday, March 25th: Masses as usual. The 10:30am Sunday Mass will begin on the lawn in front of the Come Pray with US (or in the Parish Hall if raining) with the blessing of the palms. Come and pray ...one hour with , before the blessed sacrament

Tuesday, March 27th: every Wednesday during 9:00am Mass -Church Lent. Beginning 2/21/18 through - 3/21/18 from 6 7 pm in the Chapel . This Wednesday, March 28th: will include time for private prayer and 8:30am Mass -Church reflection, reading of petitions for our Holy Thursday, March 29th: parish needs and group prayer. Come as Mass of the Lord’s Supper you are. Come before the Lord. 7:00pm Mass -Church

Good Friday, March 30th: Noon — Living Stations of the Cross -Church Lenten Service – March 14, 2018 7pm Celebration of the Lord’s Passion Women’s Reflection Mass - March 7, 7pm 7:00pm -Church Men’s Reflection Mass – March 21, 7pm

Easter Vigil, March 31st: Vigil of the Lord’s Resurrection, 8:30pm Mass St. Thomas More School

Easter Sunday, April 1st: Father will also lead Stations of the Cross during the Mass of the Lord’s Resurrection, 8:30am, 10:30am & school day in the Church on Feb. 23rd, Mar. 2nd, Mar. 12:30pm 9th, times to be determined . All are invited to attend either afternoon stations or evening Stations, with the Parish. Once again our eighth grade students will be presenting the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, March 30th All are invited. The performance will begin at 12:00pm sharp. In order to preserve the solemnity of the event please be seated promptly. Late arrivals will not be admitted.

The School will be burning old palms to use for Ash Wednesday on Monday, Feb. 12th at 10am. There will be Stations of the Cross starting at 5:30pm in Students will be dismissed for Easter Break the Church: Feb. 16th: Feb. 23rd, Mar 2nd, Mar. 9th, following the Stations of the Cross at noon on March Mar 16th, and Mar. 23rd, which will be an outdoor 30th. Stations of the Cross.

Feb. 23rd. March 9th Matthew Kelly’s book, “Perfectly Yourself”, has an invitation on March 23rd the back of the book to sign up for a short daily video that will take All in Dalton Hall starting at 6pm after Stations of the you through (the book) chapter by chapter during Lent. Go to Cross.

DynamicCatholic.com/BestLentEver to register. The STM students on March 26th will participate in a Stone Soup activity. Each student will bring Knights of Columbus Fish Frys something to contribute to the meal and are asked to February 16th, March 2nd, and March 16th contribute $1 to “Operation Rice Bowl.” All are invited to Fish Frys on the Fridays shown above during Lent in Dalton Hall starting at 6pm. Youth Ministry Programs for youth in grades 6th-12 th and their families.

This Lent, the Youth Ministry will be assembling Operation Rice Bowl Easter Baskets for foster kids through Catholic

Beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 14th, our Community Services. Donations are needed of community will participate in Operation Rice Bowl, the Easter baskets, grass, candy, small toys, books largest and oldest Catholic Lenten practice in the U.S. It is and art supplies, ribbon and cellophane rolls. run by Catholic Relief Services, the international Items can be dropped in the “Easter Basket humanitarian arm of the U.S. , reaching 101 countries Donation” box in the Narthex, in the Parish on five continents. The cardboard bowls and calendars help Office or at Youth Nights, by Sunday, March to guide Lenten prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. For over 18th. The Youth will also be writing letters of four decades, this faith-in-action program has given families encouragement to hospitalized children. the opportunity to come together in solidarity with people in All 6th-8th Graders are welcome to join us for need. Grab your rice bowl in the Narthex this Lent, and visit faith and fun at the Archdiocesan Junior High crsricebowl.org to watch videos of the people whose lives Rally on March 10th. Registration will be available online until Feb. 25th at www.stmp.org/87. your Lenten gifts are changing. Drop your bowls in the Great apps for Lent: “CRS Rice Bowl App” gives Narthex, either on , March 25th or Holy you great recipes for meatless Fridays and helps Thursday March 29th. you be mindful of the poor. “Lentsanity” has illustrated guides to the Catholic faith, fasting Donations for Easter Flowers reminders, daily Mass readings, fast food fish sandwich reviews and more. “3D Catholic” helps Easter is approaching and the planning for you to live out your faith daily through prayer, decorating the church and sanctuary is already fasting and almsgiving alongside a supportive underway. We would like to continue the tradition here at St. Thomas More of community. “Pray As You Go” lets you make digital parishioners making a donation in the name of a deceased retreat with short talks and prayers. “Passion of loved one, or in their own name, for the purchase of Easter Jesus” engages you in real-time in the last 24 flowers and decorations. Their names will be written on the hours of Christ’s life. rocks at the during Lent. Special envelopes are in the pews and can be put in the regular collection basket or left at the parish office. Lenten Food Drive

As in years past, our Faith Formation Students will again be Please pray for our Elect as they prepare for Baptism, collecting items for St. Vincent de Paul and Next Step Confirmation & 1st Eucharist at the — Betty Pregnancy Services during Lent. Anything is welcome, but Daburi is a Catechumen and Julia Daburi, Nelly Arasa, in order to get a variety, please consider the following Jason Chaney and Junny Figueroa are Candidates. items: • Feb. 18th —–—–——-Canned tuna, salmon and chicken • Feb. 25th —–—–—–-Canned soup and chili • Mar 4rd —–———— Paper Products • Mar 11th ——–—–—-Pasta, spaghetti sauce and rice • —————- Daily Reflections for Lent Booklet Mar 18th Diapers (sizes 4 & 5), wipes, baby clothes, blankets, small toys, formula, baby The Daily Reflections for Lent Booklets, Not By shampoo and lotion. Bread Alone, are available in the Narthex for a Items may be brought to the donation bin in the Narthex on $1 donation. Sundays.