The Forty Days of Lent
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Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which is “a powerful season, a turning point that can foster change and conversion in each of us. We all need to improve, to change for the better. Lent helps us and thus we leave behind old habits and the lazy addiction to the evil that deceives and ensnares us. During the season of Lent, the Church issues two important invitations: to have a greater awareness of the redemptive work of Christ; and to live out one’s Baptism withdeeper commitment." (Pope Francis, General Audience. March 5, 2014)
Moreover, the Lenten season is a special opportunity to grow spiritually through other penitential practices, especially those of self-denial, almsgiving, and through works of kindness and compassion.
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- Ash Wednesday
- Fasting & Abstinence
- Bp. Barron's Daily Lent Reflections
- Adoration & Stations of the Cross
- Lenten Penance Service
- Holy Week Schedule
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Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, a season of 40 days of praying, fasting and almsgiving to prepare our hearts, minds and souls for Easter. Please join us on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 for one of the following:
9:00 am - Mass with Distribution of Ashes
7:00 pm - Mass with Distribution of Ashes
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The following regulations regarding fasting and abstinence are observed in the United States:- Catholics ages 14 and over are to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays of Lent.
- Individuals between 18 and 59 are also obliged to fast – eat one full meal – on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Eating two smaller meals is permitted if necessary to maintain strength, but eating between meals should be avoided. These obligations, however, do not apply to those whose health or ability to work would be seriously affected.
- Catholics are also encouraged to do penance in other ways, such as prayer, acts of self denial, almsgiving, and through works of kindness and compassion.
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Please join us each Friday during Lent for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament beginning at 9:30am and followed by Stations of the Cross and Benediction at 7pm.
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“God places no obstacles in the way of those who seek him with a contrite heart, because he goes out to meet everyone like a father. I have received many testimonies of joy from those who encountered the Lord once more in the sacrament of Confession. Let us not miss the opportunity to live our faith also as an experience of reconciliation.” - Pope Francis
St. Monica will hold a Lenten Penance Service for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and personal prayer on Tuesday, March 28th from 7:15pm to 8:30pm. Several priests will be stationed throughout the church to allow for privacy and social distancing.
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The summit of the the Liturgical Year is the Easter Triduum - from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. Though chronologically three days, they are liturgically one day unfolding for us the unity of Christ's Paschal Mystery.
The single celebration of the Triduum marks the end of the Lenten season, and leads to the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord at the Easter Vigil.
Holy Thursday, April 6th
(No Morning Mass)
7:00 pm Mass of the Lord's Supper
Good Friday, April 7th
(No Morning Mass)
3:00 pm Liturgy of the Lord's Passion
7:00 pm Stations of the Cross
Holy Saturday, April 8th
(No 5pm Mass)
Easter Vigil - 8pm
Easter Sunday, April 9th
9:00 am, 11:00 am Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord
