Dear Parents,
The season of Lent presents families with an opportunity to examine our family life and to re-commit ourselves to the Christian practices of almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. Each of us is invited to do these things as individuals, but we can also do one or more actions as a family. Ash Wednesday is a good time for families to pray together and to plan the family’s Lenten practices.
Gather as a family and read the Gospel for Ash Wednesday; Matthew 6:1-6,16-18. Jesus teaches that almsgiving, prayer, and fasting should be done in secret. Remind yourselves that Jesus expected that his disciples would give alms, pray, and fast and that he gave instructions that when we do those things, they should not be done for show. Determine one way that your family will give alms during Lent to share what you have with people in need. Decide upon one way that your family will pray together during Lent and choose one thing that your family will give up during Lent as a reminder of your love for God. Agree to encourage one another in whatever Lenten promises each has made individually. Pray together that God will bless your family’s Lenten promises by praying together today’s psalm, Psalm 51, and/or praying the Lord’s Prayer.
FAMILY CHALLENGE – Discuss as a family something that you either want to give up or take on that will help you to be more like Christ during the season of Lent. This year, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 14th. Please join your Faith Formation student on Wednesday February 14th at 5:15pm for a light pizza dinner, Grades K-6 will see a PowerPoint about Lent followed by a prayer service “burying” the Alleluia and bring home family Lenten activities. Grades 7 & 8 will be joining in a short Lenten Retreat. Please then join us for Mass at 7 pm. We hope to see you for an enriching start to your family’s Lenten experience.
Partners in Faith,
Phyllis Chudzinski
Wed. 2/14/24 – LENTEN FAMILY NIGHT
Wed. 2/21/24 – Class