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Do you ask that question or get asked that question leading up to Lent? Sometimes the question is “What are you giving up for Lent?” And while that is certainly a part of lent, that is not the whole story. We “give up” things to remind us nothing is more important than God. Still, sometimes we do serve other gods. And so, we “give up things” to help us keep our true God first. This is the God who loves us, died for us and has given us everything. So, back to the original question: “What are you doing for Lent?” With the rest of this article, let me invite you to ways you can plan for a great Lent.

Add a daily Mass to your week: Now that there are three priests here, we offer 3 daily Masses Tuesday through Friday. The new Masses are 6:30pm in English at St Patrick on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Noon Mass on at Sacred Heart on Wednesday and 6:30pm Spanish at St Patrick on Fridays. Spend some facetime with Jesus in the Adoration Chapel at Sacred Heart 9am-9pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Fridays 9am-5:45pm and at St John from 7:30-8:30pm Wednesday evenings. Make a good examination of Conscience and come to confession. Confessions are offered 9-11am on Saturdays at Sacred Heart, First Sunday of the month after 8, 9 and 11:30am Masses, and Wednesdays 5:30-6:20pm at St Patrick. Also, remember our Parish Penance Service March 22 4pm at St Patrick. Be with others of the parish and pray the Stations of the Cross: Fridays after 8:30am Mass at Sacred Heart; Noon at St Patrick and after 6:30pm Spanish Mass at St Patrick and again on Wednesdays at 7:30pm at St John.

Come learn about Jesus through the Sacred Scripture or other source by joining a parish study group during Lent. Mondays (everyone) 6:30-8:30pm Parish Center; Wednesdays (men and women) or Thursdays 9-11am (women) in Parish Center; Saturdays (men) 8-9am Parish Center West. Come see. Stay through Lent and discern if you are called to continue.

Let Lent be a time to be with others your age: Young adults come together on Thursdays from 6:30-8:30 in Parish Center and Youth Group for high school students of the parish are together once a month on Sundays from 9-9:50am at the school and then attend 10am Mass together.

Fellowship and enjoy a great Knights of Columbus Fish Fry meal from 4-7pm on Fridays February 27, March 13 and March 27. Money goes to great causes and it is always good to share a meal with good friends and family!

We also want to enhance the spiritual lives of parishioners through special times of retreat experiences. These are important because it helps the parish grow in Christ and bring more people into our church. Please place these on your calendar, attend and invite others to join you.

February 21: 8am-noon, Sacred Heart: Bi-lingual retreat where we focus on Lent and how we can get the most out of our Lenten Journey. This retreat is especially important for those who are too tired or busy to possibly add another thing to their schedule. God desires us to be with him so He can give us what we need.

February 28: Sheer Goodness, day-long at the Cathedral, Young adults from across Missouri come together for prayer, fellowship and a Lenten experience to be with the Lord and grow in their faith.
March 21: A day of Prayer with St. Oscar Romero and Bishop O’Donnell at the Cathedral. Be part of the annual Multi-Cultural Prayer Day filled with celebration, sacrament of reconciliation and Mass, and great food. Anytime from 9am-3pm.

March 22 OR 23 6:30pm Sacred Heart Chapel: Tim Francis offers a stunning and incredible presentation on the Miracles of the Eucharist. He has been to the diocese several times and his presentation is always tremendously well received. To gain more belief, faith and worship of the Eucharist, come to his presentation. Bring the family! You have two opportunities; he will offer the same presentation on two separate nights.

March 28: for those under16 years old who will receiving sacrament(s) of initiation: Older students, in the morning, younger students in the afternoon in time for everyone to go to Liberty Performing arts center for Sacred Heart School’s production of Aladdin.

March 30: Chrism Mass where priests renew their priestly promises and all of the Liturgical oils used in the upcoming year will be blessed and distributed to the parishes across the diocese.

Come experience the culmination of the Lenten Experience by participating in the Holiest 3 days of the year, the Easter Triduum:

April 2, Holy Thursday, 7pm Saint Patrick; April 3, Live Stations of the Cross 3pm from Sacred Heart to St. Patrick and the Good Friday Service 7pm at Saint Patrick; April 4, Easter Vigil where approximately 20 people enter the Church 8pm at Sacred Heart.

St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church is here ready to help everyone grow in their faith. Please take advantage and make it a blessed season of Lent.