The Season of Lent
The season of Lent is marked by the three great practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. As we enter into these forty days, take advantage of the many opportunities listed in our Lenten Booklet to grow in these practices, and be encouraged that the Lord wants to help us make the most of these great disciplines. Here are three brief quotes to help get us started:
On Prayer: “You don’t know how to pray? Put yourself in the presence of God, and as soon as you have said, ‘Lord, I don’t know how to pray!’ you can be sure you’ve already begun.”
(St. Josemaría Escrivá)
On Fasting: “Why do we fast from good things during Advent and Lent? Because I need to realize that if I don’t have these things in my life I’ll still be fine.”
(Father Mike Schmitz)
On Almsgiving: “Allow the Spirit of God to take hold of you, to break the chains of selfishness and sin. In a spirit of solidarity, share with those who have fewer resources than yourselves. Give, not only the things you can spare, but the things you may perhaps need…”
(St. John Paul II)
Lenten Daily Reflections will be avialble for download the Week of Ash Wednesday 2020
Please take this opportunity to discover the Te Deum Prayer and Listen to the Te Deum podcast which unpacks the beauty of this acient prayer’s history and how Father Mike is inviting us to utilize the Te Deum on our 2020 Lenten journey.
Suggested Use of the Te Deum Psalms this Lent
PRAYER
“In the Eucharist is all the power that created the universe and all the love that redeemed it!” Join us for daily Mass & receive the Lord’s power & love to help you meet the challenges of each day.
OLPH’s Daily Mass Schedule
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday – 8:15 am*
Thursday – 8:15 am (Summer), 9:30 am** (School Year)
Area Parishes Daily Mass Schedules
8:15am Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat and 9:30am (School Mass) Thurs at OLPH
7:00am Monday, Wednesday, Friday ~ St. Augustine, Elkridge
8:00am Monday-Saturday ~ St. Paul, Ellicott City
9:00am Monday-Saturday, 6:30am Tuesday and Friday ~ Resurrection, Ellicott City
OLPH Lenten Reflections
This Lenten Season the OLPH Parish Staff has prepared a compilation of daily reflections based on the Mass reading for that particular day. In writing these reflections the aim was to encourage you to put your faith and trust in Jesus and share that gift with others. This year these reflections are enriched by the beauty of the Te Deum prayer. Click here to listen to our recent Unpacking Catholiscm podcast on the Te Deum Prayer.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
The sacrament of Reconciliation is about the mercy of Jesus Christ. The mercy of the love of Jesus, through this sacrament, breaks the power of shame and hurt of sin and restores our relationship with God. Come, experience the power of the Father’s love for you waiting in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
During Lent there will be several opportunities for Reconciliation:
- Wednesday evenings at OLPH: 6:00pm – 7:00pm
- Friday afternoons at OLPH: 4:30pm – 6:00pm
- Saturday afternoons at OLPH: 3:00pm – 4:15pm
- The Regional Lenten Penance Service scheduled for Monday, March 30 and Tuesday, March 31 will likewise be evaluated based on updated directives.
- Monday, March 30, 7:00pm – Regional Lenten Penance Service hosted at OLPH, Ellicott City
- Tuesday, March 31, 7:00pm – Regional Penance Service hosted at St. Louis, Clarksville
Eucharistic Adoration
The Church adores the real presence of Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration, when the consecrated host is visible in the monstrance for prayer and worship. Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Wednesday beginning at 9:00am through Saturday at 8:00am. This Lent, spend some quiet time in the presence of the Lord’s peace, healing & spiritual refreshment at our Parish Chapel.
FASTING
Lenten Norms for Fasting and Abstinence
Catholics, age 14 and over, are to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays during the season of Lent. Adult Catholics, ages 18 through 59, are to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fasting is observed by eating only one full meal and two lighter meals that day and by refraining from eating between meals. Individuals who are pregnant, nursing, or ill are excused from these norms.
Fasting is the voluntary giving up of food, drink, and other material things that expresses our desire to bring a healthy balance back to our relationship with God, ourselves, and others. Poor choices in daily life can lead us to become enslaved to certain material things such as food, drink, television, etc. In fasting, we admit that we are not as free as we would like to be. In fasting, we exercise the gift of our free will to say ‘no’ to certain things (which are not necessarily bad in themselves) in order to allow us to say ‘yes’ to the Lord and to others.
The Benefits of Fasting:
- Fasting awakens the heart to the intimate presence of God in one’s soul.
- Fasting encourages more serious reflection about the priorities in our lives.Fasting strengthens our sense of dependence upon God.
- Fasting sharpens our sensitivity to the spiritual dimension of life.
- Fasting strengthens our ability to say ‘yes’ to God and ‘no’ to sin.
- Fasting develops greater appreciation for the gifts of God, especially food and drink.
- Fasting purifies us, spiritually as well as physically.
Ways to Fast:
- Meatless meals on the Fridays of Lent should be simple, sacrificial, and lead us to reach out in generosity to those who are less fortunate through some act of charity.
- The classic form of fasting involves giving up of food or drink. Yet as we choose to give up something that distracts from valuable use of our time, we create room for good habits and we gain control over our lives – the same control that is needed to say “yes” to God. In place of television or video games, take action to spend time with those we love or in quiet prayer with God or in acts of service to others.
40 Days for Life
A Special Call to Prayer and Fasting for an End to Abortion
This Lent, our parish is again joining a nationwide, ecumenical prayer event to help bring an end to abortion. 40 Days for Life is a peaceful, Christ-like prayer vigil with participants committing to prayer for one hour per week. Prayer can take place outside of the Hillcrest Clinic on Rt. 40, or at home or in church. For more information on how you can participate please visit :www.40daysforlife.com.
ALMSGIVING
Give Of Time, Talent & Treasure
Almsgiving is not only an offering of money to those in need but an attitude of generosity and a willingness to share in the burdens of others. Almsgiving is closely tied to fasting – whatever we save (money or time) should be offered to the needy. For a comprehensive list of ways to serve, visit
https://olphparish.org/our-parish-life/how-can-i-serve/
Ways to give alms this Lent:
SALT
Just as salt is a necessary part of life, so is the Christian called to be a necessary part of the world! SALT, an OLPH outreach ministry, is a hands-on ministry in service to the poor and needy of Baltimore City. There are many expressions of SALT and one that fits you! To learn more about SALT and find your perfect place of service in Him, visit www.olphparish.org/salt.
Lenten Poor Box Collections
Help support those in need by contributing to our Poor Box during Lent. The parish receives numerous requests each day for help. Thank you for supporting the work of OLPH St. Vincent in meeting the needs of our brothers and sisters!
Casseroles for Our Daily Bread
Catholic Charities Our Daily Bread is Maryland’s largest hot meal program, serving more than 250,000 meals to the hungry of Baltimore City each year. Casserole pans and recipescan be picked up inside the church anytime and may be returned during lent on Feb 29/March 1 and April 4/5 to the freezer of the Parish Center kitchen prior to Mass.
Lenten Offerings and Special Events
Fridays in Lent
Whatever the time of day, OLPH has something happening on Fridays to enrich your Lenten journey.
– 8:15am Daily Mass
– 9:00am Eucharistic Adoration
(Through the day/night until 8:00am Saturday)
– 2:30pm Stations of the Cross
(exception: April 3rd @ 11:00am Living Stations)
– 4:30-6:00pm Confessions
– 6:00pm Lenten Soup Supper
– 7:00pm Stations of the Cross
(Feb 28: Stations with Meditations March 27: Living Stations)
– 7:45pm Te Deum -The Prayer of Praise
(March 13 & March 20)
– Festival of Praise
(March 6 & April 3)
TE DEUM – The Prayer of Praise
Join us on Friday, March 13th & 20th from 7:45pm to 9:00pm in the Church as we are led in a two part series which explores: Te Deum – Bringing the Prayer of Praise into our Daily Lives.
On the first evening (3/13), we will unveil the richness and story behind Te Deum, or hymn of praise. As with the Jewish people in his day, Jesus learned the psalms, teaching him how to relate to the Lord and at the same time with one another. On this night, we will dive into how we are called to live out this prayer of praise, which expresses our belief and places God at the center of creation. The second evening (3/20) will seek to learn from the lives of the saints and how trials and tribulations often challenge them to love the Lord, not for any blessings, yet for God as a blessing. St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Calcutta went through difficult times in their life where they did not feel God’s presence – and yet they both see these times as filled with grace. If we no longer were to feel God’s warmth, see God’s light, and hear God’s voice, would we too still love the Lord?
Lenten Festival of Praise
March 6th and April 3rd
Join us as we move from Stations of the Cross into our monthly Festival of Praise beginning at 7:45pm. In the presence of the Lord in the Eucharist, our musicians will help lead us in prayer and worship, especially around the mystery of the Lord’s Passion and Cross. All are welcome to this time of powerful prayer and worship!
Lenten Soup Suppers
Every Friday evening of Lent from 6:00-6:50pm (with the Exception of Good Friday)
A variety of our fellow parishioners will prepare a homemade soup for us every Friday evening with service in the Parish Center! No RSVP is necessary, simply join our fellow parishioners as we share in a simple Lenten Soup Supper. These humble meals are a good way to build some fasting into Lent and give you a chance to join with other families.
Traditional Stations of the Cross
Every Friday at 2:30pm and 7:00pm, with the exceptions of special Station of Cross offerings
We experience God’s joy, peace, love, healing, and mercy when we lift our hearts to Him in praise. Join us for our Advent Festival of Praise, an evening of prayer, praise, and worship before Jesus in the gift of the Eucharist.
Extended Stations of the Cross with Meditations
Friday, February 28th beginning at 7:00pm
The evening offers all of the beauty of traditional Stations of the Cross complimented by a meditation at each station spoken through the voices of our young people.
Mary’s Way of the Cross
Wednesday, March 25th at 7:00pm
A Special Event for Women – Mary’s Way of the Cross, Praying the Stations of the Cross through the eyes of Mary
It is a Catholic tradition to mediate on the Way of the Cross, uniting our sufferings, falls, hurts, and resurrection with the way of Jesus. Mary’s Way of the Cross invites us to accompany Mary as she walked with Jesus to Calvary. At each station we are gifted, a personal appreciation of what Christ did for us, a deeper love for him and for our brothers and sisters. Join us in the Church to pray Mary’s Way of the Cross on Wednesday, March 25th at 7pm as we learn from Mary’s experience, the process of redemption.
Living Stations of the Cross
Friday, March 27th at 7:00pm and Friday, April 3 at 11:00am
Lead by the 7th Grade class of OLPH School
Lenten Holy Days, Holy Week and Easter Mass Schedules
Mass with the blessing and distribution of ashes at 6:30am, 8:15am, 9:30am (school), 5:00pm and 7:00pm
PALM SUNDAY – April 5
Palms will be blessed and distributed at all of the regularly scheduled weekend Masses
HOLY THURSDAY – April 9
8:15am – Morning Prayer
7:00pm – Mass of the Lord’s Supper, followed by quiet prayer before the Blessed Sacrament until Midnight (in Parish Center)
GOOD FRIDAY – April 10
(no 8:15am Mass, No 4:30pm Confessions)
8:15am – Morning Prayer
3:00pm – Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion, including Veneration of the Cross and Holy Communion
HOLY SATURDAY – April 11
(No 8:15am or 4:30 pm Masses, No 3:00pm Confessions)
8:15am – Morning Prayer
9:00am – Blessing of Easter Foods after Mass in the Church
THE EASTER VIGIL – April 11
8:15pm – Easter Vigil Mass
EASTER SUNDAY – April 12
Easter Masses celebrated at:
7:30am; 9:00am (Church and Parish Center); 11:00am (Church and Parish Center)
Please Note: There is no 5:00pm Mass on Easter Sunday!
