Lent began on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025. A traditional day of fasting and abstinence.
Link to Diocese Lenten Webpage
A Message from Fr. Pawel -
On Ash Wednesday, we begin the season of Lent, a time of reflection, penance, and renewal. This a sacred time that offers us an opportunity to grow closer to God through spiritual practices such as fasting, prayer, and almsgiving.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of this 40-day journey, a time that recalls Jesus' 40 days of fasting in the desert and His call to repentance. The ashes placed on our foreheads are a reminder of our mortality and the need for ongoing conversion and reconciliation with God.
Fasting - Fasting is one of the ways to practice during Lent, and it invites us to discipline our bodies and focus our hearts. The Church encourages fasting on Ash
Wednesday and Good Friday, with a limit of one full meal and two smaller meals that do not equal the size of a full meal and remaining abstain from meat on those days. Fasting is not just about abstaining from food but also about simplifying our lives, turning away from distractions, and creating space for God.
Praying-Prayer is another part of our Lenten journey. During Lent, we are encouraged to deepen our relationship with God through daily prayer, reflection, and spiritual reading. Whether it's, praying the Rosary, attending daily mass or taking time for silence and contemplation. Let us use this season to strengthen our spiritual life and grow in our love for Him.
Almsgiving - Almsgiving, or acts of charity, are important part of Lent. It calls us to reach out to those in need and share our resources with the poor and needy. It can be done through donations, volunteer work, or other charitable acts. Almsgiving reflects our commitment to love and serve our neighbors, just as Christ has loved and served us.
Lent is not only a time for personal sacrifice; it is a time to transform our lives through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, drawing closer to God and to one another.
As we begin this holy season, let us pray for the grace to enter more deeply into the mystery of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection, so that we may experience the joy of Easter with renewed hearts and spirits.
Let this Lent be a time of true conversion, where we seek to live more fully as disciples of Christ, reflecting His love and mercy in all that we do.
Fr. Pawel
2/28/2025
On Ash Wednesday, we begin the season of Lent, a time of reflection, penance, and renewal. This a sacred time that offers us an opportunity to grow closer to God through spiritual practices such as fasting, prayer, and almsgiving.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of this 40-day journey, a time that recalls Jesus' 40 days of fasting in the desert and His call to repentance. The ashes placed on our foreheads are a reminder of our mortality and the need for ongoing conversion and reconciliation with God.
Fasting - Fasting is one of the ways to practice during Lent, and it invites us to discipline our bodies and focus our hearts. The Church encourages fasting on Ash
Wednesday and Good Friday, with a limit of one full meal and two smaller meals that do not equal the size of a full meal and remaining abstain from meat on those days. Fasting is not just about abstaining from food but also about simplifying our lives, turning away from distractions, and creating space for God.
Praying-Prayer is another part of our Lenten journey. During Lent, we are encouraged to deepen our relationship with God through daily prayer, reflection, and spiritual reading. Whether it's, praying the Rosary, attending daily mass or taking time for silence and contemplation. Let us use this season to strengthen our spiritual life and grow in our love for Him.
Almsgiving - Almsgiving, or acts of charity, are important part of Lent. It calls us to reach out to those in need and share our resources with the poor and needy. It can be done through donations, volunteer work, or other charitable acts. Almsgiving reflects our commitment to love and serve our neighbors, just as Christ has loved and served us.
Lent is not only a time for personal sacrifice; it is a time to transform our lives through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, drawing closer to God and to one another.
As we begin this holy season, let us pray for the grace to enter more deeply into the mystery of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection, so that we may experience the joy of Easter with renewed hearts and spirits.
Let this Lent be a time of true conversion, where we seek to live more fully as disciples of Christ, reflecting His love and mercy in all that we do.
Fr. Pawel
2/28/2025
Living Stations of the Cross
Friday, April 11, 2:20 p.m. - At St. Thomas by St. Thomas School 8th Grade
Sunday, April 13, 6:30 p.m. - At St. Thomas by St. Thomas CYO
Wednesday, April 16, 7:00 p.m. - At St. Mary's by St. Mary's Youth Group
Friday, April 11, 2:20 p.m. - At St. Thomas by St. Thomas School 8th Grade
Sunday, April 13, 6:30 p.m. - At St. Thomas by St. Thomas CYO
Wednesday, April 16, 7:00 p.m. - At St. Mary's by St. Mary's Youth Group
Ash Wednesday Masses
March 5, 2025
8:30 a.m. - All-School Mass at St. Thomas Church
5:30 p.m. - Mass at St. Mary's Church
7:00 p.m. - Mass at St. Thomas Church
March 5, 2025
8:30 a.m. - All-School Mass at St. Thomas Church
5:30 p.m. - Mass at St. Mary's Church
7:00 p.m. - Mass at St. Thomas Church
Lenten Reconciliation
April 3, 2025
1:45 p.m. - Student Reconciliation at St. Thomas
3:00 p.m. - St. Thomas Parish Reconciliation at St. Thomas (All Welcome)
6:30 p.m. - St. Mary's Parish Reconciliation at St. Mary's (All Welcome)
April 3, 2025
1:45 p.m. - Student Reconciliation at St. Thomas
3:00 p.m. - St. Thomas Parish Reconciliation at St. Thomas (All Welcome)
6:30 p.m. - St. Mary's Parish Reconciliation at St. Mary's (All Welcome)
Holy Week Schedule
April 13, Palm Sunday:
7:00 a.m. - Mass at St. Thomas
8:30 a.m. - Mass at St. Mary's
10:00 a.m. - Mass at St. Thomas
April 17, Holy Thursday: Mass of the Lord's Last Supper
5:00 p.m. - Mass at St. Mary's with Adoration following
6:00 p.m. - Mass at St. Thomas with Adoration following
April 18, Good Friday: The Passion of our Lord
5:00 p.m. - Mass at St. Thomas
6:00 p.m. - Mass at St. Mary's
April 19, Holy Saturday: Vigil of Easter
7:00 p.m. - Mass at St. Thomas
April 20, Easter Sunday:
7:00 a.m. - Mass at St. Thomas
8:30 a.m. - Mass at St. Mary's
10:00 a.m. - Mass at St. Thomas
April 13, Palm Sunday:
7:00 a.m. - Mass at St. Thomas
8:30 a.m. - Mass at St. Mary's
10:00 a.m. - Mass at St. Thomas
April 17, Holy Thursday: Mass of the Lord's Last Supper
5:00 p.m. - Mass at St. Mary's with Adoration following
6:00 p.m. - Mass at St. Thomas with Adoration following
April 18, Good Friday: The Passion of our Lord
5:00 p.m. - Mass at St. Thomas
6:00 p.m. - Mass at St. Mary's
April 19, Holy Saturday: Vigil of Easter
7:00 p.m. - Mass at St. Thomas
April 20, Easter Sunday:
7:00 a.m. - Mass at St. Thomas
8:30 a.m. - Mass at St. Mary's
10:00 a.m. - Mass at St. Thomas
Click on the FORMED Page Above for Links to Several Resources for Lent
Lenten Regulations -
Abstinence - All the faithful who have reached 14 years of age are required to abstain from meat on all the Fridays of Lent.
Fasting - All the faithful between the ages of 18 and 59 inclusive are bound to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
To disregard completely the law of fast and abstinence is seriously sinful. However, health and/or medical needs dispense a person.
May this holy season be a time of spiritual renewal!
Abstinence - All the faithful who have reached 14 years of age are required to abstain from meat on all the Fridays of Lent.
Fasting - All the faithful between the ages of 18 and 59 inclusive are bound to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
To disregard completely the law of fast and abstinence is seriously sinful. However, health and/or medical needs dispense a person.
May this holy season be a time of spiritual renewal!
Fasting: Pope Francis reminds us of fasting that the Lord desires as stated in the book of Isaiah: “This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.” Pope Francis: "fast from hurting words and say kind words; fast from pressures and be prayerful; fast from grudges and be reconciled; fast from bitterness and be filled with joy."
Fr. Dean, 2/19/2021
Fr. Dean, 2/19/2021