2026 Lenten Opportunities
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. These pages list 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.
Ash Wednesday Services – February 18, 2026 Mass Times: 7:00am, 8:15am, 7:00pm. Prayer Service with ashes distributed: 12:05pm
Attend Daily Mass – 7:30am Monday through Friday, and 8:15am Wednesdays & Fridays
Participate in Stations of the Cross – Fridays at 2:15pm (lead by MSH school children); Living Stations, Monday, March 30 at 5:30pm; Good Friday Stations, April 3 at 3pm; online version coming soon; Stations of the Cross Concert sponsored by NPM St. Louis on March 15 at 3pm at Holy Redeemer in Webster Groves with St Francis Borgia Choir, narrated by Fr. Kevin Schmittgens.
Attend the Sacrament of Reconciliation – Saturdays 3:30-4:15pm. There will be extra Lenten Confessions on March 21 & 28 from 10-11am and 3:00-4:15pm.
Participate in our lenten presentation by Dr. Richard Johnson – Feb. 25 at 7pm in Fr. Dowling Hall
You CAN Change Your Feelings: Finding Peace of mind, heart, and soul
Dr. Johnson provides his experience and insight about how we all have feelings. And, oftentimes we aren’t sure what to do with them! The fact that we can change our feelings is really quite amazing and a God given gift.
Dr. Johnson is nationally recognized for his pioneering work in Spiritual adult faith formation. He has given keynote addresses and presentations all around the country. His fresh ideas and enthusiasm on the spiritual aspects of adult development have inspired people to follow their hearts and live more abundant lives in Christ. He is a dynamic, engaging, and compassionate teacher who delights in seeing people grow personally and spiritually. He has written many articles and 40 books all focused upon God’s expansive grace in the maturing years. In addition to his earned doctorate in counseling, Dr. Johnson was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2010 from Holy Cross College for his work in spiritual gerontology.
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. When the alarm goes off, 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.
• Weekly Reflections by Dr. Tom Wagner – Subscribe free to sundaymorningcafe.com
Lenten Reading – Books are available in the back of Church (For Adults: A Time of Grace & Peace; For Families: Hearts Full of Love; For Kids: Jesus is Always with You!; Spanish Version: Un Camino Para El Alma)
Attend Holy Week and Easter Services, online or in person
Monday, March 30, at 5:30pm – Living Stations of the Cross
Thursday, April 2 at 7pm – Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Friday, April 3 at 3pm – Stations of the Cross
Friday, April 3 at 7pm – Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
Saturday, April 4 at 7:30pm – Easter Vigil (with Readings starting at 7:00pm)
Sunday, April 5 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
• 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 the Agape Help House in Pacific (120 Lamar Pkwy, Pacific, MO 63069), or nearby St. Vincent de Paul stores.
• 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 or Facebook page
• https://www.loyolapress.com/3-minitue-retreats-daily-online-prayer
Sign up for daily reflections and prayer
• Daily Meditations by Fr. Richard Rohr – https://cac.org/daily-meditations
• Pray As You Go – https://www.pray-as-you-go.org
• Lenten Reflections by Bishop Barron Word on Fire – https://www.lentreflections.com
• Lectio 365 – Pause and pray the Bible. Lectio 365 is a free daily prayer app with morning, midday and night devotionals to help you experience God’s presence in your life.