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.
Attend Holy Week and Easter Services
March 28/29 – Palm Sunday: All are welcome to join us for our regular schedule of weekend Masses held Saturday at 5pm, Sunday at 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30am. Palm Sunday is the final Sunday of Lent, the beginning of Holy Week, and commemorates the triumphant arrival of Christ in Jerusalem, days before he was crucified.
Monday, March 30, at 5:30pm – Living Stations of the Cross led by our 8th grade students
Holy Thursday, April 2 at 7:30am – Morning Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours
Holy Thursday, April 2 at 7pm – Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper: On Holy Thursday, we celebrate the gift of the first Eucharist. Fr. Joe – who will be leading the service – offers a special invitation to all grade-school aged children and their families. The service includes the washing of the feet, and a procession with the Blessed Sacrament to a special altar of repose in Fr. Dowling Hall. (Afterwards, the hall will be open for people to come by and “watch and pray” with Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament until midnight.)
Good Friday, April 3 at 7:30am – Morning Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours
Good Friday, April 3 at 3pm – Stations of the Cross: family friendly written by Fr. Joe
Good Friday, April 3 at 7pm – Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion: The evening liturgy includes the proclamation of the Passion and the Veneration of the Cross and will be led by Fr. Leo.
Saturday, April 4 at 7:30pm – Easter Vigil (with Readings starting at 7:00pm): On Holy Saturday, we celebrate our main Easter Mass, the Easter Vigil (yes, this counts for Sunday!) The Easter Vigil includes the lighting of the Easter fire and our congregational candles, plus the Baptism and Reception of the newest members of our faith. It is an exciting and holy night! The Mass begins at 7:30pm, with scripture readings beginning at 7pm in the darkness of church.
Sunday, April 5 at 7:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am – Easter Sunday, The Resurrection of the Lord
Attend Daily Mass – 7:30am Monday through Friday, and 8:15am Wednesdays & Fridays
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 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; 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; Online version below:
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)
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.