Lent 2023

2023 Lenten Activities Schedule

Ash Wednesday Masses, February 22
6:30 a.m. (Communion Service with Distribution of Ashes)
8 a.m.
9:15 a.m. School Mass (no nursery)
6 p.m.

Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross are held most Fridays of Lent at 6:30 p.m, except when noted for Passion Play and Fish Fry meals.

Feb. 24, at 6:30 p.m.
March 3, at 6:30 p.m.
March 10, at 7:15 p.m. (after the Fish Fry)
March 17, no stations. Passion Play in the Good Samaritan Center at 8 p.m.
March 24, at 7:15 p.m. (after the Fish Fry)
March 31, 6:30 p.m.
April 7, (Good Friday) at 7 p.m.

Our Senior Stations of the Cross will be held on Thursday, March 23, at 10:30 a.m. in the Church with a luncheon in the GSC to follow. Please sign up at the welcome desk in the Gathering Space for the $10 box lunch.

Passion Play
The Passion Play is a theatrical account of the Passion of our Lord, Jesus Christ, put on by our Confirmation students. This year’s play will be on Friday, March 17, starting at 8 p.m. in the Good Samaritan Center.

Space is limited this year. If you would like tickets for the Passion Play, please email Elliut.

Parish Reconciliation
Confessions for the parish will take place Thursdays and Saturdays during Lent:

Saturday, March 4, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Thursday, March 9, 7-8 p.m.
Saturday, March 11, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Thursday, March 16, 7-8 p.m.
Saturday, March 18, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Thursday, March 23, 7-8 p.m.  (multiple priests) 
Saturday, March 25, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Thursday, March 30, 7-8 p.m. (multiple priests) 
Saturday, April 1, 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Fish Fry
Our Fish Fry Dinners are fundraisers for our youth and young adult programming. Dinner includes fried fish, baked potato, mac-n-cheese, coleslaw, dinner roll, cookie and water or lemonade. Cost is $17 for adults, $10 for kids ages 4-10, and free for kids ages 3 and younger. More details at hnoj.org/fishfry.
Friday, March 10, 4:30-7 p.m.
Friday, March 24, 4:30-7 p.m.
Order your Fish Fry tickets HERE.

A Note About Incense

We will be using incense at the 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Sunday Liturgies during the season of Lent.  For those with sensitivities, you may wish to consider joining us at our 5 p.m. (Saturday) and 8:30 a.m. Liturgies where we will refrain from using any incense.

Lent 2023 Resources

Get more out of Lent this year! Here are some great resources to check out:

Dynamic Catholic
Subscribe for free to daily emails with "The Best Lent Ever." Every day, you will receive two short, practical and inspiring videos in your inbox, each representing a pathway leading toward a better version of you and a closer relationship with God.
https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/lent.html

Word on Fire
Check out the Lenten Gospel reflections and articles as a great resource for growing in your understanding of scripture.
https://dailycatholicgospel.com/lent-reflections-2023 

Hallow App
Pray with millions around the world leading up to Easter alongside Mark Wahlberg, Jim Caviezel, Fr. Mike and more on Hallow, the number one prayer app in the world. Find it in your app store or at https://hallow.com/

Ascension Lenten Companion book
It’s not too late to order your copy today! While you’re at Ascension Press, check out Fr. Mike Schmitz's "Bible in a Year" podcast!
https://ascensionpress.com/collections/the-ascension-lenten-companion-ye...

Ave Maria Press - Sister Mariam James’s book Restore
This is a beautiful guided Lenten journal you can purchase.
https://www.avemariapress.com/restore

Formed.org

So many great options on Formed! Here are a few to note. Check out all the great options at https://formed.org:

1. “Fearless” is a new seven-part series brought to you in partnership with Real Life Catholic and FORMED. Time and again, the people of God are called to be courageous and "be not afraid." Yet we live in a time where fear seems to guide our very existence. Don’t miss this exciting series with a special weekly guest as we follow Jesus into the wilderness. 

2. “Return with Fr. John Burns.” Fr. John Burns invites you on a pilgrimage this Lent using Return. Fr. John will guide you through the most difficult season of the Church, yet also the most transformative. Are you ready to enter the desert and experience the richness of the Paschal Mystery? 

The Gospels of Lent Bible Study

Lent Bible Study

This Lent, HNOJ adults will be studying the Gospel readings chosen for each Sunday of Lent 2023. We will pray with the Scripture and then dive deep into the Gospel readings from Mass. This Bible study will both deepen your understanding of the gospels and enliven your Mass experience each Sunday this Lent.  

Dates for this study are as follows at 7:35-9 p.m.:
Thursday, Feb. 23
Wednesdays: March 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29
Optional: Wednesday, April 5

Cost is $10, and registration is open online at hnoj.org/gospelsoflent23.

If you have any questions, please contact Chris Kostelc.

 

Abstinence and Fasting During Lent

Abstinence from meat is observed on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays of Lent by all Catholics 14 years and older.

Fasting is observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all Catholics who are 18 years until age 59. Those bound by this rule may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted as necessary to maintain strength, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.

More information on fasting is available at this United States Conference of Catholic Bishops web page: http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/catholic-information-on-lenten-fast-and-abstinence.cfm

Also for more information on Lent:  http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/index.cfm.