There is always so much going on in our Collaborative, but that is especially true in the forty days of Lent, as we journey together toward the celebration of Easter. This year, Lent begins on February 22nd and goes through Thursday of Holy Week, April 6th. During Lent, we are encouraged to look at our lives and ask ourselves what tempts us away from God and the light of Christ. The three spiritual practices of praying, fasting, and almsgiving are intended to help us improve our relationship with God.
This webpage is a living document that will change from week to week. Over the next six weeks, we hope you will find opportunities to enhance your Lenten journey on this page: ways to get involved, enrich your prayer life, and prepare to celebrate Mass this Easter. May your faith be renewed through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving during this Lent. Know that we are journeying with you throughout this sacred season.
Blessings, The SHOL Collaborative Staff
LENT Begins
Images from ASH WEDNESDAY in our Collaborative
Renew Yourself this Lent with
Lenten Longings
Join a small faith-sharing group this Lent to help you make the most of this season of preparatioin and spiritual renewal.
This Lent, our small faith communities will be reflecting on the Lenten Gospels using a faith sharing book called Lenten Longings. Let yourself be...With reflections and prayers written by Sr. Catherine T. Nerney, SSJ, Ph.D., Lenten Longings will be your ideal companion as you gather weekly in small groups to gain inspiration from next Sunday’s Gospel and its roots in the Old Testament and as you reflect each day of the week on how to live your faith in everyday life. Be inspired by the Sunday Gospel readings, explore Old Testament insights, and take action in everyday life. These sessions are sure to bring much joy and insight into your own Lenten journey. Groups meet for an hour and fifteen minutes to an hour and a half, once a week for 6 weeks beginning the week of February 19 and finishing the week of March 27.
All sessions are open to parishioners across the collaborative.
For details or to join a group, please contact Ginny Arpino.
Please join our next Soup & Stations of the Cross event on
Friday, March 31st at Our Lady's
The evening begins with a simple supper of vegetable soup and macaroni and cheese at 6 PM in the Lower Church Hall. Then everyone heads upstairs to the Curch for Stations of the Cross from 7 - 7:30 PM.
To RSVP or find out more, please contact Kristina Preman (by March 24th)
Thank you to Sandra, Karen, Nu, Sheila, Jolin, Angela, and entire Women’s Bible Study Group for putting together a WONDERFUL Lenten retreat! Thank you to Fr. Bart for his thought provoking insights on humility. Thank you to the many members of the Collaborative who participated, as well as many attendees from parishes near and far!
As we draw closer to the end of Lent, our spiritual journey must continue! Today’s readings give us hope and reassurance that God’s spirit remains with us. Hear again God’s promise to Ezekiel and us: “I will put my spirit in you that you may live...I have promised, and I will do it, says the LORD.” Jesus also gives us assurance of the life that awaits us: “whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” As we draw nearer to Holy Week, add a few extra minutes each day to think and pray about the everlasting life we are promised. Remember, God’s spirit is in YOU!
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What About Fasting and Abstinence?
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.Meatless Recipes from CRS
Each Friday of Lent, we abstain from eating meat as a way to experience a little of the hunger that many experience daily. Catholic Relief Services (who run the yearly Rice Bowl campaign) make meatless recipes available from around the world. Why not try to incorporate these Lenten recipes into your meatless Fridays?
Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl Campaign 2023
CRS Rice Bowl shares stories of hope from CRS’ work around the world. These stories are examples of how your Lenten alms are helping communities find solutions to problems like hunger and malnutrition. Take a virtual journey with us to Honduras, the Philippines, and Kenya!
Lent is LIFE CHANGING. Lent can feel like a long time. Sometimes we’d like to skip right to Easter! But just like studying for a test, practicing a sport, or saving money, we often must do difficult tasks, make sacrifices and overcome obstacles to reach a worthy goal.
REFLECT
As Christians, we have a duty to give special care to people who are most in need.
How do your Lenten sacrifices help our sisters and brothers who are most vulnerable?
Religious Education Toiletry Drive
Our Collaborative Religious Ed program is sponsoring a Lenten toiletry drive, benefiting St. Ambrose Family Shelter. St. Ambrose serves families who are experiencing homelessness and is sponsored by Catholic Charities.
We are collecting NEW shampoo, lotion, body wash, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, etc. for men, women, and children of all ages. At Sacred Heart: drop off in the upper church entrance or to the rectory/office back porch At Our Lady’s: drop in the bin in the McPherson Room of the church (students can bring items to class) Thank you for your support of this drive!
Help a Neighbor in Need this Easter
As we prepare for our most holy day, we are planning to offer Easter outreach to our neighbors in need once again, this time by providing grocery gift cards,
Please consider helping us support approximately 90 families in need by donating food cards. Donors are asked to purchase Stop & Shop food cards, depending on how large a family they’d like to support, and to return them to one of the parish offices no later than Monday, March 27.
If you are willing to assist, please visit our Sign-Up Genius page at www.signupgenius.com or email Kristina at kpreman@sholnewton.org for the link. If you have any questions or need any help, please contact Kristina by phone at 617-527-7560 ext.216.
We are grateful for your help in making life a bit easier for families as we celebrate our greatest feast at Easter. Thank you for your willingness to share your resources with our neighbors in need!
This outreach is being coordinated and provided by the parishes, in conjunction with the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Christian Service Easter Eggs at Our Lady's March 25-26
An Egg that's a Blessing. Please remember to return your donations from the egg you took last weekend, so Easter baskets can be assembled and delivered to those parishioners no longer able to join us in church.
Thank you for your generous response!