The 40 days of Lent provide an opportunity for reflection, repentance, and renewal in preparation for Easter. We invite you to join us for this sacred season, as together we journey to the Cross and the glory of Christ’s Resurrection.
Worship & Sacraments
Ash Wednesday Mass
February 18 / 6:30pm
Worship As One Service
Friday, March 6 / 7:00-8:00pm
Individual Reconciliation
Wednesdays / 7:15-8:15pm
No Reconciliation on Ash Wednesday
Spiritual Enrichment
Lenten Enrichment Series
Mondays / 6:30pm
Click the triangle next to the dates below to learn more about each topic.
February 23 – Jewish Roots of the Eucharist (with John Graveline)
Everything that we do when we gather for Eucharist has a reason and a history. In this week’s presentation, John Graveline, who studied for a year under a rabbi in Grand Rapids, will explore the Jewish meaning of bread, wine, and ritual offerings at the time of Jesus. We will experience tasting the bread, wine, herbs, etc. used at the Jewish Passover meal which is the template for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. We will also see how the Jewish synagogue service at the time of Jesus influences how we celebrate the Liturgy of the Word at Mass to this day.
March 2 – The Coptic Church & the Christians of Egypt (with Dr. Peter Malek)
The Catholic Church is composed of 24 ritual churches throughout the world, each with their own governance, and liturgical/spiritual traditions. The largest is our ritual church, the Latin Church (usually referred to as Roman Catholics). Of the other 23 ritual churches in union with Rome, the Coptic Catholic Church of Alexandria is rooted in the long history of Egyptian and Greek spirituality, tracing its roots back to St. Mark the Evangelist. Dr. Peter Malek, a native of Egypt and Coptic Christian, will help us understand Coptic history and spirituality so that our vision of Church can expand and our discipleship can “breathe with both lungs” of Eastern and Western Catholicism.
March 9 – Our Everyday Walk with God (with Noreen Warrick)
Step away for a sacred hour this Lent and experience a taste of Ignatian spirituality in a gentle, guided mini-retreat designed for busy Catholics. Rooted in the wisdom of St. Ignatius of Loyola, this one-hour encounter will invite you to offer your day to God with intention, recognize God’s loving presence in your everyday activities, and discover deeper meaning in your experiences through the practice of the Daily Examen. Come and join as we engage in sacred conversation with the Lord.
March 16 – Scriptio Divina: A “Hands On” Spiritual Practice (with Fr. Jose Maria Cabrera)
Sacred Scripture has always been a foundation of Christian spirituality. We pray the Psalms in the Liturgy of the Hours, we meditate on the scriptures through Lectio Divina, and we contemplate God’s vision for humanity through the visual arts depicting the events of the Bible. Fr. Jose Maria Cabrera, scripture scholar and pastor of All Saints Parish in Bay City, will explain and lead us in the practice of Scriptio Divina, writing out the words of scripture by hand as a way to internalize its message.
March 23 – The Music of the Saints (with Jim Renfer)
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, many saints have been moved to compose music to honor God and to give us new words and tones with which to pray. In this reflective service, we will pray with music focused on the sources of strength and healing that the saints found their solace in: the Eucharist and the intercession of Mary. As our Lenten journey draws to a close, come and fill your hearts and souls with peaceful music and inspired words written by those who are closest to God.
March 30 – Fully Experiencing Holy Week Liturgy (with Fr. Jim Bessert)
The liturgies of Holy Week celebrate the principal mystery of our faith, the Paschal Mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus, which saves us from sin, reconciles us to one another and to the Father, and offers us a share in eternal life. These liturgies are the center around which the entire liturgical year is framed. We experience unique sights and sounds at these liturgies that are meant to bring our faith alive. Fr. Jim Bessert, formerly of the Diocese of Saginaw Office of Liturgy, will help us recognize the deep meaning of these rites and help us to open our hearts to spiritual transformation this Holy Week.
Lenten Book Study
Meeting Jesus at the Table
February 25-March 25
Wednesdays / 1:00-2:30pm
Stations of the Cross
Fridays / 3:30pm
- February 20 – Stations of Mercy with Pope Francis
- February 27 – Mary’s Way of the Cross
- March 6 – Praying the Stations with the Psalms
- March 13 – Pope John Paul II Scriptural Stations
- March 20 – Visual Way of the Cross
- March 27 – Pope John Paul II Scriptural Stations
Lenten Family Movie Night
Friday, March 27 / 6:00-8:00pm
Almsgiving
CRS Rice Bowl
Join faith communities throughout the United States and put your faith into action through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Lenten alms donated through CRS Rice Bowl support the work of CRS in more than 100 different countries each year. 25% of donations stay in the local diocese, supporting hunger & poverty alleviation efforts.
You can pick up a Rice Bowl in the Gathering Space. Please bring it back starting Palm Sunday weekend.
Lenten Black Book
Sign up to receive Lenten reflections from the Little Black Books electronically! Emails go out daily. Click the button below to join!
Lenten Text Challenge
Join us in an opportunity for small sacrifices, shared daily! Click the button below to join our Lenten Text Challenge. You’ll receive a short text each morning, every weekday from Ash Wednesday until the start of Holy Week.
We look forward to journeying with you this Lent!