Lenten Opportunities
Are you wondering what to do for your Lent this year? We have a list of suggestions to help you fast, pray, and give alms. This is not everything, though! The possibilities are endless.
Pray
Daily Mass every weekday (Mon-Fri) at 12:10pm in the Church
Stations of the Cross every Friday at 5:15pm
24 Hours for the Lord on March 13-14. This includes 24 hours of Confession and Eucharistic Adoration!
Reflections on Lent & Easter through Art every Thursday at 6:00pm
Lenten Reflections Book: Not By Bread Alone available at the Co-Cathedral
Take a copy of Brother Lawrence’s book Practice in the Presence of God, a book recommended by Pope Leo XIV available at the Co-Cathedral
Confession opportunities at the Co-Cathedral and in Rochester
Adult Sunday Gospel Group on Wednesdays at 6:00pm
Lectio Divina with the daily Gospel for 10-15 minutes
Rice Bowl Reflections: https://www.crsricebowl.org/how-to-practice-lent
Family Night: Stations of the Cross with Confirmation and Faith Formation families: Wednesday March 25, 6-7pm
How to Lent on Formed
Online Lenten Bible Study - In honor of the special Franciscan Jubilee Year which Pope Leo has declared to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis, Catholic Charities will be facilitating two online Bible studies on "The Beatitudes and Francis of Assisi." The first will meet Mondays from 7:00pm-8:30pm starting Feb. 16th, and the second will meet Tuesdays from 2:00pm-3:30pm starting Feb. 17th. Please contact Maria Ahmed (507-905-8602) for more information, or to register.
Lent 2026: Returning to the Heart “Return to me with all your heart”— Joel 2:12 “It is only by returning to the heart that a true ecological conversion can take place” Pope Leo XIV
Reflect on ‘Dilexi Te’ - Pope Leo XIV
A racial examination of conscience
Fast
Ash Wednesday Soup Supper - following the 5:15pm Mass, a simple supper of vegetarian soup and bread
Social Media
The News
snacking
eat a simple vegetarian meal once a week. Check out the meals offered in the bulletin from different parishioners
cheese
using creamer in your coffee/tea
driving to every activity (bike, walk, ride share, or ride the bus)
Hitting the snooze button or sleeping in
Almsgiving
What is Almsgiving?
Almsgiving is a year-round practice of Christians’ call to charity. It is an act of service to care for our neighbors most in need. Almsgiving is central to how we practice Lent, and flows from prayer and fasting. We reflect on the needs of the world and how God is calling us to meet those needs through prayer. We make room for the needs of others—and for the Holy Spirit to work within us—through fasting. We give alms as a personal commitment to act to meet the world’s needs.
What are alms? Alms are money or goods that are given to—or other acts of charity that are performed for—people in need. Catholics look to the Catechism, which says that almsgiving is “a witness to fraternal charity” and “a work of justice pleasing to God.”
Volunteer for Children’s Liturgy of the Word during 9:30am Mass
WORKS OF MERCY FOR OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS "Wanting to inaugurate a kingdom of justice, fraternity and solidarity, God has a special place in his heart for those who are discriminated against and oppressed, and he asks us, his Church, to make a decisive and radical choice in favor of the weakest."( Pope Leo XIV, Delexi Te 16). In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus asks at the end, " (Who)...was neighbor to the robber's victim?' He(the Scholar of the Law) answered, 'The one who treated him with mercy.' Jesus said, 'Go and do likewise.'" Explore ways to help locally by offering donations, food, and resources (with links) at https://www.sj.org/reflect/works-of-mercy-for-our-immigrant-neighbors
Upcoming special collections at Mass (see bulletin)