LENT – 2021 REGULATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Current or Last Livestreamed Mass
MESSAGE FROM OUR PASTOR
Lent is the ‘time of grace’ in which we seek to open our ears and our hearts to the message of God’s ‘good news’, that we are always deeply loved, without reservation, by the God Whose Son came among us to bear the burden of our sinfulness and extend to us the healing touch of our Father.
As we approach the anniversary of our state of ‘apartness’ due to the pandemic, we may feel more keenly the depth of our need not only for God’s mercy, but for a reassuring embrace by our family in faith. The traditional Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving are intended to lead us into “deserted places” where we, too, may seek out the Jesus Who responds to all who come to Him with personal experiences of shame, regret and abandonment.
Let us take advantage of our Lenten journey to come with confidence before the Lord, to hear His comforting words, “I do will it. Be made clean.” Msgr. Tim Shugrue
ARCHDIOCESE OF NEWARK
ASH WEDNESDAY MASSES AND DISTRIBUTION OF ASHES
Ashes will be distributed at the 7:00 A.M., 12 Noon and 7:00 P.M. Masses and at Services at 3:30 and 4:30 P.M. Registration links are at the top of this page, just below the weekend Mass Registration links.
LENTEN OPPORTUNITIES
Substituting the Apostles’ Creed for Lent – Liturgical guidelines permit the use of either the Nicene Creed or the Apostles’ Creed on Sundays: the latter is especially appropriate during the Lenten and Easter Seasons, since it is the basis for the formula used in the Renewal of Baptismal Promises at Easter. Beginning with the First Sunday of Lent, therefore, we will be professing our faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed.
An additional weekday Mass will be celebrated during this Holy Season at 7:00 P.M Monday through Friday. Also, the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered on Mondays following 7:00 P.M. Mass.
Stations of the Cross will be prayed on the Fridays of Lent at 12:30 P.M. following the Noon Mass, except First Friday, when Adoration will follow the noon Mass.
Adult Lenten Booklets will be available at the doors of the church beginning this weekend. It is our prayer that this booklet will be of spiritual benefit to you and your family.
WEEKLY LENTEN HOLY HOUR
St. Michael Church
Mondays, 7:30 – 8:30 P.M.
Beginning on Monday, February 22, and continuing on Mondays during Lent, St. Michael Parish will host a Lenten Holy Hour. Mass will be celebrated at 7:00 P.M., followed by Hour Hour at 7:30 P.M. During the Holy Hour, Confession will be heard.
CRS RICE BOWLS
The season of Lent gives us a wonderful opportunity to reflect and make room in our hearts to welcome the stranger. During Lent, our community will participate in the CRS Rice Bowl, a faith-in-action program that invites us to reflect on the challenges of global hunger — and our Gospel call to care for our global human family. When we give alms, we share what we have with others. Rice Bowls are located in the vestibule of the church.
LETTING GOD BE A FATHER TO ME
Join us for bi-weekly Lenten email reflections guiding us to focus on Catholicism as being about more than keeping rules and fulfilling obligations, such as going to Mass on Sundays and not eating meat on the Fridays of Lent. Yes, Catholicism is really about deepening our understanding and experience of the connection we have with God. Catholicism is about following Jesus by letting an ever-deepening intimate relationship with the Father permeate our everyday lives, and about letting that intimate relationship fill us with joy, no matter what is happening in and around us.
To receive these twice a week emails: Send an email to Sister Loretta. Fort more information and for a sample of the bi-weekly email content, click here to see our website post.
LENTEN REFLECTIONS FOR LIFELONG FAITH FORMATION – ARCHDIOCESE OF NEWARK
These 8-10 minute video reflections on the Gospel readings for the six Sundays of Lent in English and Spanish will feature different Archdiocesan leaders to accompany adults meeting in small faith sharing groups in our parishes.
The reflection in English for the First Sunday of Lent features Sr. Donna Ciangio, Chancellor. Click here to view the Lenten Video Reflection in English and here for the Spanish version.
PARISH LENTEN BOOK CLUB
Our Parish Lenten focus will be on a short book, I Heard God Laugh, by Matthew Kelly. Beginning Tuesday, February 23, we will meet at 7:30 P.M. in the Sarah Black Room of the Parish Center. Seating is limited to no more than 23 people per session. Use this link to register, registration is required. For more information please contact the Parish Center at 908/276-0360 or email. Hope you can join us.
St. Michael Rosary Society Lenten Rosary Services
“The Sorrowful Mysteries” Via ZOOM
Join us as we journey with Mother Mary this Lenten Season and pray that she will help us deepen our relationship with her Son, Jesus. The Lenten Rosary Service Series will begin Thursday, February 18, via Zoom, and continue on Thursday evenings, February 25, March 4, 11, 18 and 25 at 7:30 P.M. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join via computer or phone. For the Zoom sign-in information, please email barbrivera@yahoo.com.
INTO THE DESERT
A Parish Lenten Retreat Afternoon with Fr Bismarck Chau, Rector of Cathedral Basilica
Saturday, March 6, 2021
St. Michael Church
Staggered Arrival 1:30 – 2:00 P.M.
Retreat 2:00 – 5:00 P.M.; Option to stay for evening Mass
Open to all parishioners & families, limited to 100 in total. Use this link to register online by March 4. • A time for music, reflection, adoration and reconciliation that leads us into the mystery of Easter
MEN’S CONFERENCE GOES VIRTUAL
Free Virtual Conference
Friday, February 19 through
Sunday, February 21
Use this link to register for the Conference, to learn what will be discussed, to view the growing list of presenters, the structure of this year’s event and why you should consider attending.
THEOLOGY LENTEN VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES
Immaculate Conception Seminary School, Seton Hall
Our 2021 Lenten video reflection series will guide you through spiritual reflection on the Stations of the Cross with themes relating to St. Joseph. Monsignor Joseph Reilly, S.T.L., Ph.D., Rector/Dean, and Dianne Traflet, J.D., S.T.D., Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Administration and Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology, will offer a reflection each weekday, delivered via e-mail. The series will run Monday, March 1, through Friday, March 19, the feast of St. Joseph.
Register Now for the Lenten Series
DIVE INTO YOUR FAITH THIS LENT!
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 1571 South Martine Avenue, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 • Young Adults through Senior Citizens are invited to participate • Internet access is needed for Zoom sessions • There is no cost, but registration is required • Click here to register. Questions: Email maryclinton@ihmparish.net or engagingdisciples@ihmparish.net or contact IHM Nazareth Center Office @ 908-889-2100. *This speaker series is brought to you through the collaborative efforts of IHM’s Engaging Disciples Initiative and the IHM Faith Formation Office! ☺ Join our five part Zoom speaker series: 7 – 8:30pm each Tuesday of Lent Click on the Flyer for more information and to register.
LENTEN MISSION: THE FULFILLMENT OF ALL DESIRE
The journey continues… with more wisdom from the saints.
Join Renewal Ministries’ President, Ralph Martin, for a LIVE online Lenten Mission. This four night mission will help you build a solid foundation for the spiritual journey through the wisdom of the saints, as found in Ralph’s book The Fulfillment of All Desire.
This Lenten Mission will build on topics covered during our Advent Mission (which focused on the “purgative” stage of the spiritual journey). Content will be new for those who participated in Advent (focusing on the “illuminative” stage of the spiritual journey), but will also stand alone for newcomers. All are invited to rjoin us to learn timeless wisdom for the spiritual life.
Register to all dates
Sunday, 28 Feb 2021, 8:00 PM
Sunday, 7 Mar 2021, 8:00 PM
Sunday, 14 Mar 2021, 8:00 PM
MATTHEW KELLY – DYNAMIC CATHOLIC’S BEST LENT EVER
Feed Your Soul with Prayer this Lent!
Nothing will transform your life so completely, absolutely, and forever like really learning how to pray. That’s why this year’s BEST LENT EVER journeys through Matthew Kelly’s latest book, I Heard God Laugh: A Practical Guide to Life’s Essential Daily Habit.
Beginning on Ash Wednesday and continuing through all forty days of Lent, you will receive a daily email with a short video to help you reconnect with yourself and your God.
If you choose to throw yourself into this experience, we promise you that you will be surprised by what God can do in your life with just an email, a short video and an open heart. So this year, don’t just sign up for BEST LENT EVER, have your best lent ever!
IGNATIAN SOLIDARITY NETWORK
Steadfast: A Call to Love will be delivered to your inbox each morning.
Renew within me a steadfast spirit.
Psalm 51:12 (Ash Wednesday)
“Our call to love [is] one that transcends all prejudices,
all historical and cultural barriers, all petty interests.”
Fratelli Tutti 83
During Lent, in these turbulent times, how can we persevere in our work for justice with a steadfast spirit, rooted in love?
Join writers from the Jesuit and broader Catholic network as we seek to answer this question, renewing each day throughout Lent our commitment to care for both our fellow human beings and our common home.
DON’T MISS A POST! Click here to sign up for daily emails.
Word On Fire
Spend your time with Christ in the Gospel this Lent
alongside Bishop Barron and the Word on Fire community.
Click here to sign up to receive these daily Gospel reflections in your inbox every morning.