2023 Lenten Series
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Contact Us
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Ashley Logsdonalogsdonstpius.netDirector, Adult Faith Formation
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2023 Lenten Series5:00 p.m. Mass
5:30-6:15 p.m. Soup Supper
6:00-7:00 p.m. Children’s Program*
6:15-7:00 p.m. Liturgy & Speaker
*Age-appropriate programming will be offered for children while adults attend the liturgy and speaker (Childcare for all sessions, Kids and Middle School on February 28, March 7, 14, and 21 sessions).- Ages 1-5: Childcare
- Grades K-5: Kids Session
- Grades 6-8: Middle School Session
- Grades 9-12: are invited to attend the adult session, or volunteer with the kids session
Registration is required for the Children's Program, no later than the end of day Sunday prior to the week's session (i.e. by February 26 for the February 28 session).
REGISTER FOR CHILDREN'S PROGRAM HERE
SHARE YOUR INSIGHTS AND FEEDBACK FROM THIS YEAR'S SERIES HERE
Tuesday, February 28
Encountering Christ in the Stranger
PRAYER: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (multilingual)
SPEAKER: Fr. Ryan Pietrocarlo, C.S.C., Pastor, St. Adalbert Parish
RECAP: Fr. Ryan describes Jesus as an itinerant preacher who most times had no place to lay his head. Jesus does not call us slaves, but friends with no distance, and therefore to Him, no one is a stranger. He narrates his positive encounter with the people he worked with in Mexico. Certainly, the people did not see him as a stranger. But sometimes we set ourselves apart as strangers, and the danger is that we create unnecessary barrier. Just as the woman at the well encountered Jesus, Christ comes into our hearts, and we are not strangers. Fr. Ryan invites us to create the culture, and enter into each other’s hearts.
Tuesday, March 7
Encountering Christ in Athletics
PRAYER: Liturgy of the Word
SPEAKER: Fr. Nate Wills, C.S.C., Football Chaplain, University of Notre Dame
RECAP: Fr. Nate Wills describes how his role as the Notre Dame Football team chaplain has given him the opportunity to encounter Christ in others. As a football chaplain, you may not know what to expect, but he is confident that people are able to encounter the presence of Jesus even at athletic events. Before the start of every game, he would hand out a holy medal to both players and referees. And over time, he has seen that this simple act of kindness has been deeply impactful. Over the years, he experienced some God moments: including unexpected questions about the faith, request for prayers from some of the referees, and student players signing themselves with the sign of the cross at the beginning and end of each game. His call to action: "pay attention" and "invite others into conversations about faith".
View Fr. Nate's Talk Here
Tuesday, March 14
Encountering Christ in the Everyday
PRAYER: Lectio Divina
SPEAKER: Dr. Timothy O’Malley, Director of Education, McGrath Institute for Church Life, University of Notre Dame
RECAP: Tim O’Malley outlines the presence of God in the everyday life: in the hungry, in the thirsty, in the servants, in the living word of God, among the community so united and close to each other. The event of Jesus’ visit to the home of Mary and Martha with his disciples was an opportunity to encounter the living God. While Martha prepares meal for the guests, Mary sits at the feet of the Master. But Martha was distracted and inattentive in the midst of her attentiveness. But Mary has chosen the better part, at the feet of Jesus and gives him a warm reception and attention. O’Malley says that Jesus comes to us in unexpected ways: every morning we see the sun, in the smallest task of daily life, in the love and sacrifices we make for our neighbors, when ordinary bread and wine becomes the Body and Blood of Jesus. He states strongly that God is so extraordinarily transcendent that he comes to us in the ordinary and unexpected to give us the gift of his presence. And when we wake up every morning to pray, attend Mass, and in other ordinary events of daily life, we welcome Jesus who is knocking at our doors of our homes, waiting for us to open the door.
View Dr. O'Malley's Talk Here
Tuesday, March 21
Encountering Christ in People You Disagree With
PRAYER: Evening Prayer
SPEAKER: Jeremy Hoy, SPX Director of Liturgy & Music, and Sherrie Hoy, Parishioner
RECAP: Jeremy and Sherrie Hoy gave an excellent presentation (Beth Hlabse was unavoidably unable to present). In our world divided by race, color, ideology, social status and orientation, it is also possible to encounter Christ in the people we disagree with. In our daily interaction with people especially those we disagree with, Jeremy and Sherrie recommend that we seek to understand than to be understood. This takes a great deal of humility, and love. We should be quick to listen and slow to speak. They recommend we follow the example of Jesus who is always ready to listen, and slow to speak. Even when he was condemned, he spoke only few words. The way of Jesus is counter-cultural, and this is the way of the Christian: gentleness, kindness, goodness, humility, self-control, and love. When we do this, then we focus on the things that bring us together, and then gradually work on the things that divide us. The way of the Christian is the way of Jesus who is all love, patient and humility personified.
View Jeremy and Sherrie's Talk Here
Tuesday, March 28
Encountering Christ When It's Uncomfortable
PRAYER: Penance Service (and Individual Confessions)
SPEAKER: Fr. Dan Scheidt, Pastor, Saint Vincent de Paul, Fort Wayne
RECAP: Fr. Dan Scheidt paid particular attention on the Beatitudes, and further suggested that we need to go beyond our comfort and think more about the Beatitudes as God’s plan for us. He acknowledged that we have felt the discomfort of Adam and Eve and have rolled ourselves in our litany of discomfort. But now is the appointed time, it is time to return home. We will return because we know that what Jesus sees right through the sin is the goodness of the penitent. There is more joy in heaven for even one sinner who returns to the Lord. The truth is that our sins are not our identity; rather they distract us from the real lasting good. Thus, they are the things that really discomfort us. Jesus who reveals his very self in the Beatitudes wants us to return home- and in returning home, we will germinate and bear fruit for the kingdom.
View Fr. Dan's Talk Here
