From the Desk of Fr. Brian
Dear Parishioners:
You may notice a few differences in the way we pray and decorate the Church during the season of Lent. These differences allow us to focus more on the mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Differences in Liturgy
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During Lent, we do not sing or recite the Gloria except during solemnities such as St. Joseph, the Annunciation and for our parish, St. Patrick, our patron saint.
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The Alleluia is removed from the Gospel Acclamation (prior to proclaiming the Gospel) and is replaced with a different sung verse. Together we will sing Alleluia during the Easter Vigil.
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Our liturgical music, in general, will take on a simpler, more solemn tone to reflect the season.
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At the Penitential Act, we will be singing “Kyrie Eleison” as well as the “Agnus Dei”.
Differences in the Church Environment
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The décor during Lent is much simpler in order to represent the season. The use of purple and darker tones help us focus on the subdued period of Lent.
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No flowers should be placed in Church during Lent. The Roman Rite is specific about the use of flowers for this penitential season. The only exceptions are on the solemnity mentioned above and on Laetare Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Lent.
Differences in our Practices
Each year, Lent is an opportunity to renew our Christian faith, and we are encouraged to use the three Pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as the means to grow closer to God.
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Prayer: If you don’t have a daily prayer habit, Lent is the perfect time to begin. If you do, you can add a devotion or practice that will enhance your Lenten preparations.
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Fasting: The Church only requires that we abstain from meat every Friday in Lent and on Ash Wednesday, and that we fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, eating only one full meal plus snacks that only add up to another meal. But fasting can be much broader than that. It may look like giving up things like gossip, your favorite coffee order, or forgoing music in the car and replacing it with prayer. The goal of “offering something up for Lent” is to turn our minds to God.
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Almsgiving: Almsgiving reminds us of Jesus’s call to serve and connects us in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in need. It traditionally refers to helping the poor financially, but by extension, we can help anyone in need by our actions, as well.
We can participate in Lenten devotions and spiritual offerings in the parish such as:
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The Stations of the Cross, taking place on Fridays during Lent (12:45 & 7:30 PM) which allow us to pray and reflect upon Jesus’s final hours
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Our Parish Lenten Mission with Fr. Hugh Gillespie on March 2nd, 3rd, & 4th.
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Other events as they come up during the season (see the bulletin & our parish website)
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Think about what will help you and your family focus on Lent and put something in your home that will remind you every day: a purple table cloth, a display with a crown of thorns, etc.
There is no better time to reconnect with or deepen one’s faith than Lent. During this time, we can draw closer to God as we prepare for the joyful celebration of Christ’s resurrection at Easter.
Remember: Together, we can do something beautiful for God.
In Christ,
Fr. Brian