"Each year Ash Wednesday and its resounding invitation to let the Lord raise us up begins a very serious season, a quarantine — a 40-day observance of renewal and penance to seek the Lord Jesus and to accompany Him in His action of salvation for us, His Passion, Death and Resurrection. This salvation is done personally and communally in us, for we are called as the Body of Christ, the Church. None of us do this alone!"

-- Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Message for Lent 2023 --

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2023, and lasts until Holy Thursday, April 6, 2023. Ash Wednesday is a universal day of fasting and abstinence in the Catholic Church. According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the imposition of ashes on foreheads “symbolizes our dependence upon God's mercy and forgiveness.”

• Soup & Stations: Every Friday during Lent. Join us for a soup Dinner at 6PM, followed by Stations of the cross at 7PM. This event is graciously hosted by our Faith Formation teams.
• 40 Cans for Lent: Starting February 22. Our annual canned food drive hosted by the Knights of Columbus. All items benefitting local food pantries in Manvel and Richmond. Please donate canned goods, dry goods, and non-perishable items
• Mathew Presents the Savior: An Easter Perspective: All are welcome to attend a 90-minute presentation on Saturday, March 11 from 9:45 - 11:30 AM in the St Angela Merici Room. With a sincere desire to recognize the enormous sacrifice Christ made for us, we visit the Stations of the Cross during Lent. We are challenged to understand the "What" of His sacrifice, His ultimate gift of Love that we might be redeemed during that journey of the Stations. This presentation seeks to explain Matthew's "Why" woven within the story of the "What" of the Passion of Christ from a totally Catholic point of view using Scripture and Catholic doctrine and teaching. Free for all to attend!
• Lenten Day of Reflection:  Saturday, March 18 from 9AM to 3PM. The Knights of Columbus invite ALL MEN AND WOMEN of the parish to join us for a Lenten Day of Reflection. We will begin the day with Mass at 9:00 AM then proceed to the PLC for sessions of videos and discussion from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Lunch will be provided. There is no cost, but pre-registration is requested. Please see the link HERE or contact Mike Vitello at [email protected].
• Lenten Penance Service: Wednesday, March 22 at 6:30PM. Come to this special Penance service during the Lenten Season. There will be several priests available to hear confession.

What would happen if you spent the next 40 days creating as many Holy Moments as possible?  In fact, let's find out what would happen if our entire parish spent the 40 days of Lent collaborating with God to create moments of kindness, goodness, and compassion wherever we go. I'm delighted to announce that our parish will be participating in BEST LENT EVER, a powerful program from Dynamic Catholic. It's incredibly simple and completely free, click HERE to be added to the daily Lenten reflection that will be sent straight to your inbo

Roman Catholics must fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Additionally, they must abstain from meat on all Fridays during Lent.

As outlined on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' website on Lenten fasting and abstinence, “fasting is obligatory for all who have completed their 18th year and have not yet reached their 60th year. Fasting allows a person to eat one full meal. Two smaller meals may be taken, not to equal one full meal. Abstinence (from meat) is obligatory for all who have reached their 14th year.

The rule of abstinence from meat is binding upon Catholics aged 14 and onwards. This does not apply to dairy products, eggs, or condiments and shortening made from animal fat. Fish and all cold-blooded animals may be eaten (e.g., frogs, clams, turtles, etc.)