Lenten Prayer for Transformaon 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 pracces and connuous 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 obligaon of absnence. Absnence is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays of Lent. On days of absnence, meat may not be used at all. Fasng -- Catholics over 18 and up to the beginning of their 60th year are bound to the obligaon of fasng. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are the days of fasng. 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 fasng, 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. Eang between meals is not permied, but liq- a new beginning in our own lives. uids, including milk and fruit juices are allowed. Whether it is fasng, 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 fasng be a hunger for jusce, our almsgiving, Grow with these Lenten Opportunies! 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 acon, 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. systemacally presents the BIG picture of the Catholic Faith. Filmed on This Lent our community will parcipate in Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl, a locaon in Rome, the Holy Land, Calcua, and in the Augusne Ins- faith-in-acon program that will help you experience Lenten spirituality of living tute studios in Denver, dozens of naonally-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 communies whose lives will be on Wednesday, March 11, at 7-8:30 p.m., St. Elizabeth Parish your Lenten gis 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 Staons of The Cross—Presented by Apple Valley Catholic Collaborave 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 Reconciliaon 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- ciliaon 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 reflecon, individual March 4: Eucharisc Adoraon 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 - Eucharisc Adoraon 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 resurrecon and ascension, and his invitaon for each person to encounter him in order to make mercy movates us to do beer.” 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 Reflecon 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. Registraon is limited to 35 parcipants and will close aer the max Apple Valley Lenten Food Drive— Collecon for St. Martha’s Food Pantry, Lawrence, MA. Lists is reached or March 28 whichever comes first. Please see Diahne Goodwin with other quesons. of needed items will be distributed aer all Masses at both churches on Saturday & Sunday 2/29 -3/1. Please bring your donaons 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 acvies 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 reflecng 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., Adoraon of the Blessed Sacrament Formed—Books, audio talks, movies, documentaries. Go to hps://formed.org/ Staons 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 Celebraon 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 reflecng on a Scripture passage. Easter Masses—April 12 Liturgy of the Hours, 9:00 a.m. hps://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 hps://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. .