Journeying Through Lent...
Opportunities for Prayer
Carve out time for deliberate conversation with God. This conversation can take the form of spontaneous prayer, traditional prayers, or making a visit to your local parish. Mass during the week is always a wonderful opportunity for worship.
Stations of the Cross
Our Digital Ministry has prepared two audio productions Stations of the Cross for your individual devotion. The audio will be posted through the Digital MInistry tab of our website, or by searching our YouTube channel @jp2nv.org.
We will use two booklets, both obtainable throught through Amazon or directly through the publishers. Please click for further information on these two publications.
Fasting & Abstinence Guidelines
All persons, 14 years and older, are obliged to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays in Lent. Other forms of abstinence from alcoholic beverages, television, video games, the internet and social media, are also beneficial.
Everyone from the ages of 18 to 59 is obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Voluntary fasting on other weekdays of Lent, especially Wednesday and Fridays, is highly recommended. Fasting is understood to mean that one full meal may be eaten. Two other small meals may be eaten but together should not equal a full meal.
*When health or ability to work are seriously affected, neither the law of fasting nor the law of abstinence obliges. If in doubt, one’s parish priest or confessor should be consulted.
Airport workers, travelers, and others, while on board ships or airplanes, are dispensed from the laws of fasting and abstinence for the duration of their journey (except on Good Friday). It is desirable that they perform some other pious act instead.
Opportunities for Almsgiving
From the earliest times, giving to the poor, or almsgiving, has been an invaluable spiritual practice. Almsgiving is a religious duty, a form of penance, an expression of Christian charity, and an aid to interior conversion.
All Catholics are urged to give generously to aide the poor and support the charitable works of the Church.
One such opportunity we encourage is the Ash Wednesday collection for Catholic Charities. Wherever you attend services on Ash Wednesday, there will be a special collection to support the many works of this vital program. Catholic Charities programs such as Meals on Wheels, St. Vincent Lied Dining Facility, Hands of Hope Food Pantry, Emergency Night Shelter and other programs depend on our generosity and support, both financially and through volunteering. As we experience increased homelessness in our city, the need is greater than ever.
The weekends of April 6 & 13 we are asking for donations of Easter Goods for the less fortunate. Please bring non-perishiable food donations as you come to Mass these days.
Our own JP2 has recently entered into a partnership with Smith's Food & Drug participating in their "Inpiring Donations" program, in which a portion of your purchases will be graciously returned to JP2. Details of this program are found under GIVING on our website.
Your generosity is much needed, in many ways...and always greatly appreciated.
Reconciliation
Take advantage of the gift of mercy and love in the sacrament of reconciliation. Lent is a privileged time to celebrate this sacrament. Many parishes will have times to partake of this sacrament.
Fr. Shawn receives confessions at St. Francis on most Saturdays, beginning at 8 am. There is also limited opportunity that he can hear confessions between Masses on Sundays. And...alway by appointment.
Daily Reflections
delivered to your Inbox!
Beginning on March 5, Ash Wednesday, our parish staff will be emailing daily reflections, teachings and Lenten challenges directly to your inbox. If we have your email on file you should receive these. If for some reason they do not arrive to your inbox, please first check your spam folder. If it is not found there, we may not have a valid address. Please LOG IN* to verify your registration information is both accurate and complete. If you are not yet registered, we'd love to welcome you. Please complete a Parish Registration** to be added!
Please reach out if you
have any trouble!
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*Log On is found under the MY ACCOUNT tab on the website.
**Parish Registration may be found from the REGISTER ONLINE button on our home page.
Fr. Shawn's Reading Suggestions
Fr. Shawn has shared with us a reading list for Lent, allowing further journeying and self reflection during these days.
He Leadeth Me
An Extraordinary Testament of Faith by Walter J. Ciszek S.J. with
Daniel L. Flaherty S.J.
This book is a story of the Jesuit Father Walter J. Ciszek. He is accused as a “Vatican spy.” The story captures his spiritual journey of 23 years in prison. He takes us through the struggle of his interior life and how he recognized God in his experiences
Awesome Glory
Resurrection in Scripture, Liturgy, and Theology by Abbot Jeremy Driscoll
This book will take you step by step through the easter vigil. It will enrich your experience of the Paschal Mystery. Abbot Jermey will walk you through the ritual action, comment on scripture, and point us to the Eucharist. This is a wonderful book to read before the Triduum.
A Witness to Joy
by Chiara Corbella Petrillo
This book is about a mother and wife whose vocation led her to embrace her cross of suffering. It is a story of faith-filled love and joy suffering through terminal cancer
Dilexit Nos
On the human and divine Love of the heart of Jesus Christ, by Pope Francis.
In this reading, Pope Francis takes one on a step-by-step discovery of the love of Jesus. This love is hidden in the furnace of his burning heart.