March 2, 2025

Jesus Christ: Yesterday, Today, and Forever ~

Lent is an extended penitential season when Catholic Christians try to become better Catholic Christians. Specifically, we try to make some sort of special sacrifice for God’s glory, the salvation of souls, and atone for our sins and the sins of the whole world. Some people do big things for Lent and some people just one small thing, but we should all do something for Jesus who did everything for us.

Lent will begin this Wednesday with ashes, so now is the time to start making a resolution. Great things, even little things, don’t happen without a commitment and a plan: marriage, parenting, career, good health, etc., all take great commitments and a plan. So does our faith. Martyrs have died for the Lord, and saints have given their whole lives for Him. This Lent, with God’s grace, please join me in making a plan to better yourself in Christ.

I have a list below of things to consider for Lent, yet joining a Small Faith Sharing Group would be at the top of that list. For five weeks, multiple small groups will gather to share their insights from a short catechism called Credo by Bishop Athanasius Schneider. It is probably the best short, easy to read, catechism of the Catholic Church I’ve ever seen, answering so many questions about our faith in a simple question and answer format. Please sign up for a Lenten Small Faith Sharing Group. There will be small groups meeting at all three campuses during five weeks of Lent. You can sign up by visiting our website and clicking on the “Lenten Small Faith Sharing Group” tab https://holyredeemervan.org/parish-events/lenten-small-faith-sharing-groups. Small faith sharing groups that already meet for other reasons are encouraged to participate as well by contacting the office for books. Sessions will begin the week after Ash Wednesday. Books are free for those who sign up.

In addition to fasting on Ash Wednesday & Good Friday, and abstaining from meat on those days as well, here are some other things you might consider doing this Lent:

1. Join a Small Faith Sharing Group during Lent. See above.

2. Faithfully attend Stations of the Cross on Fridays at Holy Redeemer (5:30pm), St. Thomas Aquinas (6pm), or Star of the Sea (6pm) followed by soup suppers at each.

3. Attend a Parish Mission at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish from Monday thru Thursday, March 17 to Thursday, March 20 – 6pm Mass and following. And a one night at Star of the Sea on Friday, March 21.

4. Fast on Fridays.

5. Give up sweets, alcohol, or snacking.

6. Go to Confession at least once during Lent.

7. Tithe 10% of your income during Lent: 5% to the parish and 5% to other Catholic charities.

8. In addition to Sunday Mass: attend a weekday Mass once a week.

9. Make a weekly Holy Hour in the church, preferably during 24-hour exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from Friday morning to Saturday morning.

10. Pray the Rosary with the parishioners before Mass, with your family, or on your own.

11. Pray for five minutes in the morning and five minutes at night.

12. Pray a nine-day novena (or longer). There are lots to choose from, just internet search “novenas.”

13. Daily spiritual reading. When was the last time you read a good Catholic book?

14. Watch The Search from our free on-line service Formed (for registered parishioners). You can find Formed by going to Holy Redeemer’s website and clicking on the Resources tab at the top of the homepage and scroll down to the Formed tab. Once on Formed, look for The Search.

15. Share your faith with a family member, neighbor, or co-worker once a week.

16. Visit someone who is lonely; best done in person but easy to do on the phone.

17. Exercise regularly.

18. Cold showers.

19. Put on a smile every day.

20. Think up your own Lenten resolution.

Here are some ideas for you to consider giving up during Lent.

1. Vices of the tongue: complaining, gossip, slander, swearing, using the Lord’s name in vain, etc.

2. Inessential shopping. No online shopping?

3. Cut screen time in half or more: TV screens, internet screens, movie screens, video game screen, smart phone screen [the average American looks at their smart phone screen over a hundred times a day, are you any better?].

4. Cut in half or more: electronic music, radio time (this includes talk radio and news).

5. Cut in half or more: nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, sweets.

6. Think up your own.

Remember these two things as you work through your Lenten resolutions: 1) with God’s grace all good things are possible, and 2) setbacks aren’t failures, they are opportunities to grow.

Ash Wednesday Mass Times:

Holy Redeemer – 8:30am, 11am, 7pm.

St. Thomas Aquinas – 8:30am, 7pm

Star of the Sea – 4:30pm

May Almighty Bless You,