As we prepare to begin Lent, I wish to encourage all of our faithful to reflect on ways we can enrich our spiritual life during this “season of grace.” It is too easy, I think, just to “give up candy,” or something to that effect. I urge each of us to consider a number of spiritual exercises: additional prayer (and that may include attending daily Mass); quiet time alone, as in healthy walks, allowing the spirit some freedom without noise; spiritual reading (Scripture, life of a saint, a recent church document, etc); action to assist those in need (sick, shut-ins, mentally disturbed, poor); an attempt to eat more healthily during Lent (such as increasing intake of fruits and vegetables, abstaining from sweets). This list should be explained briefly in homilies as Lent begins.
Adult faith classes will be offered, as I think that attending and sharing in our discussions should be a good spiritual exercise during Lent. This year, rather than offer adult faith class in both Belt and Centerville, I will modify the approach.
At Holy Trinity, each Sunday during Lent, all are invited to attend Mass, share a simple meal, then share our faith. The timing immediately after Mass, with a meal, has worked very well. I propose that beginning on the First Sunday of Lent, we will read and examine the Mass readings for the following week. Each person should bring a set of Mass readings for the following Sunday to class. Discussion will be based on the readings, and folks are free to raise questions or comment in response to these readings. During the last session, we will briefly review the liturgies of Holy Week.
At St. Mark’s, rather than offer weekly adult faith classes, perhaps two presentations will be offered. I have learned that sporting events hurt attendance, so I will try to find two evenings when no event is being held in the school. Although I have not firmly decided on topics for these presentations, I tentatively suggest the following: One presentation will be on the use of photography as a form of prayer, something I have done for years, and wish to share, if we can find a good screen for viewing. (Note: It is painful to see how projecting digital images dilutes and distorts them, and I will consider an alternative.) The second presentation may be on the Liturgies of Holy Week, which are so extraordinarily rich that they deserve careful reflection to enhance our common experience during the services (Passion Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil, Easter Sunday). An alternative would be a presentation on the theme of “Life and Death.”
Responses from the faithful on these plans should be appreciated.
Adult faith classes will be offered, as I think that attending and sharing in our discussions should be a good spiritual exercise during Lent. This year, rather than offer adult faith class in both Belt and Centerville, I will modify the approach.
At Holy Trinity, each Sunday during Lent, all are invited to attend Mass, share a simple meal, then share our faith. The timing immediately after Mass, with a meal, has worked very well. I propose that beginning on the First Sunday of Lent, we will read and examine the Mass readings for the following week. Each person should bring a set of Mass readings for the following Sunday to class. Discussion will be based on the readings, and folks are free to raise questions or comment in response to these readings. During the last session, we will briefly review the liturgies of Holy Week.
At St. Mark’s, rather than offer weekly adult faith classes, perhaps two presentations will be offered. I have learned that sporting events hurt attendance, so I will try to find two evenings when no event is being held in the school. Although I have not firmly decided on topics for these presentations, I tentatively suggest the following: One presentation will be on the use of photography as a form of prayer, something I have done for years, and wish to share, if we can find a good screen for viewing. (Note: It is painful to see how projecting digital images dilutes and distorts them, and I will consider an alternative.) The second presentation may be on the Liturgies of Holy Week, which are so extraordinarily rich that they deserve careful reflection to enhance our common experience during the services (Passion Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil, Easter Sunday). An alternative would be a presentation on the theme of “Life and Death.”
Responses from the faithful on these plans should be appreciated.
