1. The Season of Renewal
LENT

2. Some History

By the 4th century, Lent developed as
a 40-day season, drawing from three
practices of the early Church:
• A two-day period of fasting
before Easter that was eventually
lengthened to 40 days;
• A period of intense preparation
for the Sacraments of Initiation;
• The Order of Penitents, for those
already baptized who had fallen
into serious sin.

3. Penance & Baptism

 As we prepare for new members to celebrate
initiation at Easter, all members are called to do
penance in preparation for renewing their own
baptismal promises.

4. The details

 Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes on
Holy Thursday prior to the Mass of the Lord’s
Supper.
 Lent is 40 days (the counting does not include
Sundays) recalling Jesus’ 40 days in the desert.
 Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy
Saturday) is the three-day season between Lent and
Easter.
 During Lent, Catholics are called to pray, fast and
give alms.

5. Ash Wednesday
 start of Lent.
 Ash Wednesday marks the official
 All who are baptized and preparing for Baptism are
welcome to receive ashes on their foreheads
 Ashes are made by burning dried palms from the previous
years’ Palm Sundays.
 Ashes are generally distributed following the homily.
 As you approach the minister, he/she will make the Sign
of the Cross on your forehead, saying either of these:
 Remember you are dust and to dust you will return…
 Repent (Turn away from sin) and believe in the Gospel…
The ashes will gradually fade; just bathe as you normally do

6. Ash Wednesday

 They are a sign of penance (sackcloth and ashes)
 Ashes remind us of our own mortality: we will
someday die to this life, and in order to be prepared
for heaven we must die to sin in order to rise to new
life in Christ.

7. Ash Wednesday

 Masses/prayer services include these
Scriptures
 Prophet Joel talks about rending hearts, not our
garments and return to the LORD
 2 Corinthians: Now is an acceptable time for salvation
 Matthew: do not let your right hand know what the left
is doing
 At OLP – Masses are at 6:30 a.m., 8:15 a.m.; 5:30 p.m.
and 7 p.m. (bilingual)

8. Three Pillars of Lent

Pray
Fast
Give Alms

9. Prayer

Giving more time to prayer draws us closer to God.
Some suggestions:
• Stations of the Cross
A devotional prayer which follows the journey of Christ to the Cross
Fridays, 7 p.m. in the Church (20-30 minutes)
• Adoration
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays in the St. Ann Chapel, 9 a.m. until 8 p.m.
• Prayer Resources
Available at Church exits and in the Mulligan Room today.
• Scripture Reading
Spending time reading and meditating on the Gospels.
• Daily Mass

10. Fasting

 Fasting helps us hunger for God.
 Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast (one full
meal, and two other meals that equal a full meal with no snacking.
Liquids are permitted) and abstinence (no meat)
 Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence (no meat)
 Binding for those between the ages of 14 and 60 who are
physically able to adhere to the regulations.
 Exceptions for illness, chronic diseases such as diabetes,
pregnant or nursing mothers. Common sense should
prevail in following regulations.
 Fasting helps us hunger for God.
Some people choose to fast from other things (or add
positive actions) during Lent as a prayerful discipline.

11. Almsgiving

 In giving of our time, talent and treasure to the poor,
we show our care for those in need and express our
gratitude for all God has given to us.
 OLP Blessing Boxes support our scholarship program
for young people in our sister community in El
Salvador.
 Lent Fish Fry (on Friday evenings) support our youth
who travel for mission work during the summer
months.

12. Lent is a time of intensive preparation for
Initiation into the Church at Easter

13. Rite of Election

 During the first week of Lent, those who are preparing to
join the Church attend a special prayer service with the
diocesan church and bishop.
 At the parish, there is a Rite of Sending, recognizing
the importance of the parish as witnesses to the readiness
and preparation of those preparing to enter the Church.
 During the Rite of Election, those to be baptized sign the
Book of the Elect. Sponsors and Godparents are asked to
testify on behalf of the Candidates and Catechumens.
 Candidates and Catechumens are introduced by name to
the bishop.

14. Rite of Election
 Saturday, February 16

 We will meet at 4:30p.m. Mass.
 After dismissal, we will go over the Rite.
 When sponsors join us, we will have a quick dinner,
then head to the Cathedral. The Rite of Election begins
at 7 p.m.
 Candidates and catechumens will sit sponsors and
spouses/parents. Other guests will be seated nearby.
 Only Candidates and Catechumens will be in the
procession.
 We will return to OLP afterwards and will NOT meet
on Sunday, February 17.

15. Celebrated at Mass on
the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent
March 3, March 10, March 16

16. What are the Scrutinies?

The Scrutinies are intense prayers for
those preparing to join the Church at
Easter, in the presence of the parish
community.
They will follow the homily at Mass.

17. Why the Scrutinies?

The scrutinies are celebrated in order
to deliver the elect from the power of
sin and Satan, to protect them against
temptation, and to give them strength
in Christ.” At its core, the scrutinies
are not about the sinfulness of the
elect but about the overwhelming
grace of God in Christ.

18. Presentations

 Following the First Scrutiny, Candidates and
Catechumens will be presented with the Creed.
 Following the Second Scrutiny, Candidates and
Catechumens will be presented with the Lord’s
Prayer.
 These prayers, which are foundational to the Church,
will assist in preparing for Easter.

19. Retreat

During the retreat on March 16,
we will continue this intense preparation
with prayer.
We will also role play the
Sacraments of Initiation in preparation
for the Easter Vigil.
The retreat will conclude
with 4:30 p.m. Mass.

21. Palm Sunday

 Palm Sunday marks the start of Holy Week.
Palms are blessed and the Mass
begins with the Gospel story of Jesus
entering Jerusalem.
During Mass, we hear one of the
Gospel accounts of the Passion of
Jesus.
The color for Palm Sunday is red.

22. Holy Thursday

 On Holy Thursday, the sacred oils that have been blessed
at the Chrism Mass are ritually brought to the parish.
 We celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper which
officially begins the Sacred Triduum.
 At Mass, we hear John’s account of the Last Supper,
including the Washing of the Feet.
 There is a ritual foot washing at Mass.
 The Mass has no ritual ending. There is a procession of
the Eucharist to the Chapel of Repose where there will be
prayer and waiting through the evening (as with the
Garden of Gethsemene.)

23. Good Friday

Called “good” because it is on this day that
our salvation is won by Christ on the cross.
Good Friday services include special prayers,
John’s account of the passion and death of
Jesus, and a communion service.
Good Friday is a day of fast and abstinence.

24. Holy Saturday

 During the morning, we have Preparation Rites
 We will meet in the morning for prayer and a
rehearsal of the Vigil
 At 7:30 p.m., the Great Easter Vigil begins outdoors
with the lighting of the Easter Fire.
 During the Vigil, there are many readings (up to
nine are permitted; four are required) that recount
the history of salvation beginning with Creation.a
 The symbols of water and light figure hugely into
this evening.

25. Easter Vigil

 Once we come inside, following the lit Easter candle,
we hear the Exsultet, proclaiming the power of God.
 The Gloria is sung
 Readings and psalms are sung and proclaimed
 The Gospel is the Resurrection story.
 Following the homily, the Elect are baptized, the
Candidates make a Profession of Faith, and all are
confirmed.
 Everyone present renews his/her Baptismal
promises.

26. Easter Vigil

Mass continues with the
Liturgy of the Eucharist.
The new members of the Church
join the community in receiving
Holy Communion.
Following Mass, there will be a
reception to celebrate!

28. “Unpacking” the sacraments

 On the Sundays following the Easter Vigil, we will
attend the 8:30 Mass and gather after Mass to share
your experiences of the Holy Spirit and grace and to
answer any questions.

30. Marriage

 Marriage, in the Catholic Church, is a sacrament.
 Those who have been married in places other than a
Catholic Church should have their marriage blessed.
 During a blessing of Marriage, you will renew your
marriage vows in the presence of two witnesses.
 We will bless Marriages sometime during the Easter
season.