Each year God gives us the season of Lent to help deepen within us all that is good. Through prayer, sacrifice and sharing with the poor, God wants to help transform our hearts that we might be more like his Son. Below are some of the Lenten opportunities available here at Most Sacred Heart, in your home, and in the Archdiocese. May this Lent be filled with grace and goodness. May God help us live these days well.
Attend Daily Mass
7:30am Monday through Friday, and 8:15am Wednesdays & Fridays
Participate in Stations of the Cross
Tuesdays at 7pm, Fridays at 2:15pm (lead by MSH school children); Living Stations Monday April 3 at 6:15pm; & Good Friday Stations April 7 at 3pm
Attend the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturdays 3:30-4:15pm. There will be extra Lenten Confessions on March 25 & April 1 from 10-11am and 3:00-4:15pm. Held in church Confessionals.
Practice Everyday Holiness
• Everyone is invited to thirty seconds of silence at noon and/or at 6pm.
• Stop, Drop, and Savor – Set an alarm for the same time every day to stop what you are doing and savor the blessings and goodness in your life.
• Delight through the Doorway – When coming home from work, picking up the kids, greeting your spouse or other family members, greet them with 30 seconds of delight. This can change the entire dynamic of a household.
Attend our Day of Reflection March 18
Everyone hurts. Sometimes, the wounds are awful. Why do so many people tell us it is important to forgive? What does that even mean? What helps the pain get better? Are there times we should NOT forgive? What about receiving forgiveness ourselves?
On March 18, join our Day of Reflection – come hear Fr. Joe lead us through these topics with his own unique presenting style, guided-meditations, some small group discussions, and time for personal reflection. Held in Father Dowling Hall from 10am – 3:30pm (doors open at 9:30am; you’re also welcome to stay for Reconciliation and 5pm Mass if you’d like). Cost is $10 per person which includes lunch. Register here. (Email us to register if you would like financial assistance.)
Attend Holy Week and Easter Services (online or in person)
Monday, April 3, at 6:15pm – Living Stations of the Cross
Thursday, April 6 at 7pm – Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Friday, April 7 at 3pm – Good Friday Stations of the Cross (written by Fr. Joe)
Friday, April 7 at 7pm – Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
Saturday, April 8 at 7:30pm – Easter Vigil (with Readings starting at 7:00pm) – our MAIN Easter Mass!
Sunday, April 9 at 7:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am – Easter Sunday, The Resurrection of the Lord
Some additional Lenten ideas
Pray – make personal prayer more of a part of your day
• Pray the Rosary, or a decade of it
• Take time for spiritual reading
• Spend time each day with God, without words
• Read through one of the Gospels from start to finish
• Download a song that becomes part of your daily Lenten prayer
• Be mindful of your prayer postures, change your prayer environment; find a meaningful focus
Give – Look for ways to give to the poor
• Donate to the local Eureka Food Pantry, either directly or place food in the baskets in the back of church
• Donate your clean, gently used clothing and unbreakable household items to St. Vincent de Paul using the blue bin located near the Rectory
• Reach out in service to the parish by getting trained as a Eucharistic Minister, Lector,
Usher/Greeter, A/V Technician, or whatever ministry is on your heart
Fast from harsh words; feast on words of kindness
Utilize online faith opportunities
• Watch an online homily on our webpage (www.sacredhearteureka.org) or Facebook page
• https://www.loyolapress.com/3-minitue-retreats-daily-online-prayer
Sign up for daily reflections and prayer
• By Fr. Richard Rohr at https://cac.org/daily-meditations/
• At https://www.pray-as-you-go.org
• Bishop Barron Word on Fire Lenten Reflections – https://www.lentreflections.com/
• Weekly Reflections by Dr. Tom Wagner – Subscribe free to sundaymorningcafe.com “The articles contained in ‘Sunday Morning Café,’ take the readings from the liturgical cycle, and look at them from the perspective of everyday experience. In the time it takes to sip a cup of coffee, you can read, reflect, and receive a spiritual pick-me-up. Or you can use these reflections as a handy conversation starter for your own marriage or family life.”