Dear Parishioners,
Lent, a sacred period of preparation for Easter, begins on Ash Wednesday and is a 40-day period of penance and abstinence. During this season, we strive to emulate Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who spent 40 days fasting in the desert and resisted Satan’s temptations. Ash Wednesday is this upcoming Wednesday, February 22nd, so let us take a brief moment to reflect upon why Lent is so important and how we can make the most of it as faithful Catholics.
Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving
Sometimes we mistakenly feel that all we need to do as Catholics during Lent is give something up – but our duty during Lent is really far more. It is a period of almsgiving and self-control. We should seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture, and grow in our faith in multiple different ways. For example, we can give alms by donating to local charities or introduce a struggling friend to God’s Word.
We also practice self-control by abstaining from luxuries during Lent. We abstain from eating meat on Fridays, and we give up other pleasures that we normally enjoy in our effort to be Christlike. As we do so, it will become easier and more natural for us to attain that true conversion of heart in which we can follow Christ’s will with unquestioning faith.
Week of Prayer Workshop & Retreat
We have a wonderful opportunity here at Holy Family to help you and your family and friends get into the Lenten mindset. Father Michael Shea, a Vincentian priest stationed at the Miraculous Medal Shrine, will be at Holy Family to present a Workshop and Retreat for Prayer beginning on February 27th. The schedule is as follows:
February 27th to March 3rd: Mass and Presentation Daily at 8:00 AM & 7:00 PM
Wednesday, March 1st: Stations of the Cross following 7:00 PM Mass
The Miraculous Medal Novena will be prayed before all Retreat Masses. Confession will also be offered immediately following all Retreat Masses.
Father Michael Shea will preach at all Masses during the Week of Prayer and will preach at the Masses on the weekend of February 25th and 26th.
We invite you to attend any or all Masses and events of this retreat. No sign up is required, so please consider attending to deepen your faith during your Lenten journey.
Let us take this season of Lent to grow and develop as Christians as we walk alongside Christ in his 40-day journey. Let us practice self-control and almsgiving, while also bringing more patience, trust, and compassion into our lives. While we may need to give up that which normally gives us pleasure during Lent, the sacrifices we make during this season will make room in our hearts for Jesus Christ as we prepare for the Sacred Triduum.
Yours in Christ,
Monsignor Sweeney
Mass Schedule
Livestreaming Ash Wednesday 7:00pm Mass and Sundays at 9:00am
Confession Schedule
Saturdays: 3pm
Wednesdays: Immediately following Stations of the Cross
February 27 – March 3rd: Immediately following 8:00am and 7:00pm Masses
Anytime upon request
Devotions
Second Sunday of the month:
Holy Hour following the 11am Mass
Monday-Friday: 7:30am
Fridays: Following the 8:00am Mass
February 27th – March 3rd: Before 8:00am and 7:00pm Masses
Stations of the Cross
March 1st: Immediately following 7:00pm Mass
Wednesdays at 7:00 PM during Lent beginning March 8th
Donate to Holy Family Parish
One perfect way to give alms during Lent is to make a contribution to Holy Family Parish. This campaign allows you to directly support the ministry of Holy Family Parish and your generosity enables us to continue our efforts to serve the faithful in Manayunk. We thank you for your generosity during the season of Lent.