Saint Michael Parish
Welcomes You
The Season of Lent
From our Pastor
We began our Lenten Journey this year on February 14th – Valentine’s Day. What seemed like the most unlikely day to begin a season of fasting in the desert, perhaps gave us the most appropriate entrance into this season. For although this season is hallmarked by prayer, fasting and almsgiving – all these acts should be entered into with a true spirit of love. We are called to a deeper recognition of the love our God always has for us and rediscover the love we are called to have not just for our God, but for all our brothers and sisters created in his image.
Throughout our Lenten Season, we have been provided opportunities to increase our prayer with God, either through stations, daily Masses, Lenten reflections on the Eucharist, and more. Hopefully whether part of a formalized opportunity of prayer, or simple moments in the quite of our homes, we have prayed more with God. Thank you for the many ways our faith community has sought to be more charitable this season, in the Annual Diocesan Appeal (which continues through the Easter season), the Clean Up Your Act for Lent campaign, the Green Eggs and Ham this Tuesday, the NHS Easter Basket drive this weekend, and other personal moments of giving. I hope this season has awakened a deeper desire to share ourselves with others.
The season has also challenged us to remove those things that keep us from placing Christ at the center of our lives – not merely abstaining from meat or giving up some food or technological device but searching out those attitudes or biases that we possess and seeking to irradicate them from our daily activities. I pray for all of us that as we enter this most holy week, our Lenten journey has enabled us to truly proclaim in the here and now “Hosanna!” and let the refrain “Crucify Him!” simply be an enactment of history.
God bless you all – Father Lavelle
PRAYER, while always necessary for our relationship with God, is a valuable part of the Lenten journey. We are invited to consider increased participation at Mass, the prayer of the Stations of the Cross, or other forms of prayer – all leading us to a deeper understanding of God’s presence in our lives.
FASTING refers to limitations on food and drink. The regulations of fast prescribe taking only one full meal a day, with two smaller ones; nothing in between meals. There are two days of fast: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Additionally, individuals are asked to reflect on their lives, and seek to fast from something that has kept them from focusing more on their relationship with the Lord (i.e. – excessive TV or social media, certain foods or vices, etc.).
ABSTAINING means refraining from certain kinds of food or drink, typically meat. Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent including Good Friday are days of abstaining from meat.
ALMSGIVING, like prayer, should always be part of our Christian journey, but like prayer, becomes a heightened awareness and understanding during the Lenten season. Consider your gift to the 2024 Annual Diocesan Appeal–One in Hope, One in Mission, contributions to the Holy Week collections for Catholic Relief Services (Rice Bowl on Holy Thursday and the Holy Land on Good Friday), as well as an increased contributions to the parish and other charities of choice. Don’t forget our “Green Eggs (or any color) and Ham” collection. Like the very successful Turkey Connection, we will be collecting Hams (not baked) and colored Easter eggs for Easter Dinners at area soup kitchens. This will be on Tuesday, March 26, from 10am – 3pm in the parish hall.
Come Worship With Us
Palm Sunday of our Lord’s Passion
March 23, 2024 – 4:00pm Mass
March 24, 2024 – 9:00 & 11:30am Masses
Holy Thursday - The Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Thursday, March 28, 2024 – 7:00pm Mass
followed by Adoration until 10:00pm Night Prayer
Good Friday – The Passion of the Lord
Friday, March 29, 2024 – 7:00pm Service
Blessing of Easter Food
Saturday, March 30, 2024 – 10:00am (in the Parish Hall)
The Great Easter Vigil
Saturday, March 30, 2024 – 8:00pm Mass
Easter Sunday – The Resurrection of the Lord
Sunday, March 31, 2024 – 9:00 & 11:30am Masses
LENTEN RESOURCES
Our Youth Faith Formation page has Lenten resources for all ages.
HOLY THURSDAY AND GOOD FRIDAY COLLECTIONS
Traditionally, the Holy Thursday collection used to be the Rice Bowl. The collection we take on Holy Thursday helps to alleviate hunger on a local level.
The Pontifical Good Friday Collection helps Christians in the Holy Land. Your support helps the church minister in parishes, provide for Catholic schools, offer religious education, and undertake social and charitable works. The Pontifical Good Friday Collection also helps to preserve the sacred shrines.
It is vital that we support Christians living in the Holy Land, in order to maintain a Christian presence in the very land made holy by the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus.
When you contribute to the Pontifical Good Friday Collection, you become an instrument of peace and join with Catholics around the world in solidarity with the Church in the Holy Land.
Thank you in advance for your support of these important collections.