Lent 2025

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR LENT 2025

Dear brothers and sisters,

We begin our annual pilgrimage of Lent in faith and hope with the penitential rite of the imposition of ashes. The Church, our mother and teacher, invites us to open our hearts to God’s grace, so that we can celebrate with great joy the paschal victory of Christ the Lord over sin and death, which led Saint Paul to exclaim: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor15:54-55). Indeed, Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, is the heart of our faith and the pledge of our hope in the Father’s great promise, already fulfilled in his beloved Son: life eternal (cf.Jn10:28; 17:3).[1]

Eucharistic Adoration - Church of the Presentation

This Lent, as we share in the grace of the Jubilee Year, I would like to propose a few reflections on what it means to journey together in hope, and on the summons to conversion that God in his mercy addresses to all of us, as individuals and as a community.

Sisters and brothers, thanks to God’s love in Jesus Christ, we are sustained in the hope that does not disappoint (cf.Rom5:5). Hope is the “sure and steadfast anchor of the soul”.[8]It moves the Church to pray for “everyone to be saved” (1 Tim2:4) and to look forward to her being united with Christ, her bridegroom, in the glory of heaven. This was the prayer of Saint Teresa of Avila: “Hope, O my soul, hope. You know neither the day nor the hour. Watch carefully, for everything passes quickly, even though your impatience makes doubtful what is certain, and turns a very short time into a long one” (The Exclamations of the Soul to God, 15:3).[9]

May the Virgin Mary, Mother of Hope, intercede for us and accompany us on our Lenten journey.

To read the full message, click here (En).

[1] Cf. Encyclical Letter Dilexit Nos (24 October 2024), 220

[9] Ibid, 1821.

MENSAJE DEL SANTO PADRE FRANCISCO PARA LA CUARESMA 2025

Queridos hermanos y hermanas:

Con el signo penitencial de las cenizas en la cabeza, iniciamos la peregrinación anual de la santa cuaresma, en la fe y en la esperanza. La Iglesia, madre y maestra, nos invita a preparar nuestros corazones y a abrirnos a la gracia de Dios para poder celebrar con gran alegría el triunfo pascual de Cristo, el Señor, sobre el pecado y la muerte, como exclamaba san Pablo: «La muerte ha sido vencida. ¿Dónde está, muerte, tu victoria? ¿Dónde está tu aguijón?» ( 1 Co 15,54-55). Jesucristo, muerto y resucitado es, en efecto, el centro de nuestra fe y el garante de nuestra esperanza en la gran promesa del Padre: la vida eterna, que ya realizó en Él, su Hijo amado (cf. Jn 10,28; 17,3) [1].

En esta cuaresma, enriquecida por la gracia del Año jubilar, deseo ofrecerles algunas reflexiones sobre lo que significa caminar juntos en la esperanza y descubrir las llamadas a la conversión que la misericordia de Dios nos dirige a todos, de manera personal y comunitaria.

Hermanas y hermanos, gracias al amor de Dios en Jesucristo estamos protegidos por la esperanza que no defrauda (cf. Rm 5,5). La esperanza es “el ancla del alma”, segura y firme [8]. En ella la Iglesia suplica para que «todos se salven» ( 1 Tm 2,4) y espera estar un día en la gloria del cielo unida a Cristo, su esposo. Así se expresaba santa Teresa de Jesús: «Espera, espera, que no sabes cuándo vendrá el día ni la hora. Vela con cuidado, que todo se pasa con brevedad, aunque tu deseo hace lo cierto dudoso, y el tiempo breve largo» ( Exclamaciones del alma a Dios, 15, 3) [9].

Que la Virgen María, Madre de la Esperanza, interceda por nosotros y nos acompañe en el camino cuaresmal.

Para leer el mensaje completo, haga clic aquí (Sp).

[1] Cf. Carta enc. Dilexit nos (24 octubre 2024), 220.

[9] Ibíd., 1821.

What is Lent?

Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It's a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms; and we practice self-control through fasting. We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully. We recall the waters of baptism in which we were also baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.

Many know of the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, but we are also called to practice self-discipline and fast in other ways throughout the season. Contemplate the meaning and origins of the Lenten fasting tradition in this reflection. In addition, the giving of alms is one way to share God's gifts—not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time and talents. As St. John Chrysostom reminds us: "Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2446).

In Lent, the baptized are called to renew their baptismal commitment as others prepare to be baptized through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, a period of learning and discernment for individuals who have declared their desire to become Catholics.

https://www.usccb.org/prayer-worship/liturgical-year/lent

Let us bow low to Jesus, admit our sinfulness before him, and count on him to “complete the good work he has begun in us…” (cf. Phil 1:6).

Penance

Additional resources for preparing oneself for celebrating the Sacrament of Penance may be found on our Sacrament of Reconciliation page.

Se pueden encontrar recursos adicionales para prepararse para la celebración del Sacramento de la Penitencia en en nuestra página del Sacramento de la Reconciliación.

If you would like to make your Easter donation online, please click the above picture. Thank you for being a blessing to the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church!

Additional resources for preparing oneself for celebrating the Sacrament of Penance may be found on our Sacrament of Reconciliation page.

Se pueden encontrar recursos adicionales para prepararse para la celebración del Sacramento de la Penitencia en en nuestra página del Sacramento de la Reconciliación.

WHAT IS HOLY WEEK?

Holy Week is the final week of Lent. We encourage all to join us in participation, prayer, reflection, and celebration for Holy Week and Easter - the most sacred time and the pinnacle of our calendar. It’s an important week of prayer, reflection, and gratitude as we contemplate the agony Jesus endured for us and the hope of the Resurrection. Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday and ends with Holy Saturday. Easter Sunday (both Vigil and Easter daytime celebrations) is the peak of our Catholic faith and the greatest Feast Day—the Resurrection of the Lord!

La Semana Santa es la última semana de la Cuaresma. Alentamos a todos a unirse a nosotros en la participación, la oración, la reflexión y la celebración de la Semana Santa y la Pascua, el tiempo más sagrado y el pináculo de nuestro calendario. Es una semana importante de oración, reflexión y gratitud mientras contemplamos la agonía que Jesús soportó por nosotros y la esperanza de la Resurrección. La Semana Santa comienza el Domingo de Ramos y termina con el Sábado Santo. El Domingo de Pascua (tanto la Vigilia como las celebraciones diurnas de Pascua) es la cima de nuestra fe Católica y el día de fiesta más grande: ¡la Resurrección del Señor!

Triduum:

HOLY THURSDAY | Jueves Santo

Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Holy Thursday is the first day of the Easter Triduum, the most sacred days of the Catholic faith. It begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, which commemorates the Last Supper celebrated by Jesus and his disciples on the Jewish holiday of Passover. It also celebrated the institution of the Eucharist, the institution of the priesthood, and the footwashing (to humble oneself in joyful service to others). It’s not a Holy Day of Obligation, but many Catholics attend Mass.

This is the day of fraternal Charity, when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. Open the prayer button and pray the Act of Love/Charity. Today make every act more considerate, our voices will be moderated out of respect for one another. We show an extra willingness to give way to one another. We pass up opportunities for argument and criticism. We meditate on the truth that this is the day to commemorate the institution of the Eucharist, and we feel the excitement of the anniversary of a great event.

Misa vespertina de la Cena del Señor
El Jueves Santo es el primer día del Triduo Pascual, los días más sagrados de la fe católica. Comienza con la Misa de la Cena del Señor, que conmemora la Última Cena celebrada por Jesús y sus discípulos en la festividad judía de la Pascua. También celebraba la institución de la Eucaristía, la institución del sacerdocio y el lavatorio de pies (humillarse en el servicio gozoso a los demás). No es un Día Santo de Obligación, pero muchos católicos asisten a Misa.

Este es el día de la Caridad fraterna, cuando Jesús lavó los pies a sus discípulos. Abre el botón de oración y reza el Acto de Amor/Caridad. Hoy haz que cada acto sea más considerado, nuestras voces serán moderadas por respeto a los demás. Mostramos una voluntad adicional de ceder el paso unos a otros. Dejamos pasar oportunidades para discutir y criticar. Meditamos en la verdad de que este es el día para conmemorar la institución de la Eucaristía, y sentimos la emoción del aniversario de un gran acontecimiento.
GOOD FRIDAY | Viernes Santo

Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
Good Friday commemorates the day Jesus died and saved us from our sins. It’s the only day of the year in which Catholic Mass is not celebrated. Instead, we celebrate the Passion of the Lord and have Stations of the Cross. Between the hours of 12pm and 3pm, are particularly solemn, as this was the time of Jesus’ crucifixion. During prayer, we are called to reflect on the on the agony of Jesus’ sacrifice for all and how by His death, we must transform ourselves to die to sin and be born into faithful love and eternal life.

Viernes Santo de la Pasión del Señor
El Viernes Santo conmemora el día que Jesús murió y nos salvó de nuestros pecados. Es el único día del año en el que no se celebra Misa católica. En cambio, celebramos la Pasión del Señor y tenemos las Estaciones de la Cruz. Entre las 12 y las 15 horas, son especialmente solemnes, ya que fue el momento de la crucifixión de Jesús. Durante la oración, estamos llamados a reflexionar sobre la agonía del sacrificio de Jesús por todos y cómo por su muerte, debemos transformarnos para morir al pecado y nacer en el amor fiel y la vida eterna.
HOLY SATURDAY | Sábado Santo

Holy Saturday
On Holy Saturday, there is no Mass. On Holy Saturday, we remember that Jesus was descended into hell where He preached the Gospel to those who died before and opened the way to heaven for all those who were worthy.

This concludes Holy Week.

Sábado Santo
El Sábado Santo no hay Misa. El Sábado Santo recordamos que Jesús fue descendido a los infiernos donde predicó el Evangelio a los que habían muerto antes y abrió el camino al cielo para todos los que eran dignos.

Así concluye la Semana Santa.

AFTER Holy Week we celebrate Easter:

EASTER VIGIL | Vigilia Pascual

Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
The Easter Vigil ends the Triduum and begins Easter celebrations. It is the Mass celebrated at sundown on Holy Saturday and it begins the Easter celebrations of Jesus’ resurrection. It’s also the day that new catechumens, those who are entering the Catholic Church, receive the Sacraments for the first time.

Vigilia Pascual
La Vigilia Pascual pone fin al Triduo y da comienzo a las celebraciones pascuales. Es la Misa que se celebra al atardecer del Sábado Santo y da comienzo a las celebraciones pascuales de la resurrección de Jesús. También es el día en que los nuevos catecúmenos, aquellos que ingresan a la Iglesia Católica, reciben los Sacramentos por primera vez.
EASTER SUNDAY | Domingo de Pascua

Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday is a Holy Day of Obligation because the Mass celebrates the most important teaching in the Catholic faith - that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead so that we could share eternal life with him in heaven.

Domingo de Pascua
El Domingo de Pascua es un Día Santo de Obligación porque la Misa celebra la enseñanza más importante de la fe católica: que Jesús murió por nuestros pecados y resucitó de entre los muertos para que pudiéramos compartir la vida eterna con él en el cielo.

LENT - RESOURCES IN ENGLISH

Bishop Cotta's Message

More to come.
Fr. Mark's Message

Making it Count!

We have entered into the season of Lent, which is a special time of the year for receiving graces, and it is especially true this year because this is a special jubilee year! This is a special year of grace. I think our prayers and penances during this Lent will COUNT DOUBLE because they will be augmented by the graces of this Holy Year! Perhaps we will get more graces for the same effort! This may seem like a silly way to think, but I think it is true. I always feel that on the feast day of my favorite saint, the prayers that I say to that saint on that day have more power. A jubilee year is like that. It is an anniversary of Our Lord himself and his gift of salvation. It was 2025 years ago that he gave himself to the world as our Savior! Therefore, I would say that even if you haven’t yet decided what you want to do extra for Lent, or what you want to “give up” for Lent, don’t worry! It’s not too late! Whatever you do will COUNT DOUBLE! You can do twice as much in half the time! This is a year of special INDULGENCE. God will indulge you anyway. This is what an “indulgence” is. Catholics know that a prayer that is “indulgenced” has added value. The church has decreed that certain prayers or pious acts are supercharged! The church has been given the “keys” to the treasuries of heaven and can distribute them as she wills.

In the past few weeks, I have been trying to explain this idea of indulgences by quoting the Bible, the Catechism, and the writings of the popes and saints. Please indulge me as I continue to write about it! The basic idea is that the merits of Christ, Our Lady, and the saints are like a treasure trove, which can be accessed by the church. The pope has the “keys to the kingdom,” which were given to St. Peter so that whatever he binds on earth is bound in heaven (Matthew 16:9). This is the basic idea of what an indulgence is. It means that if I say a rosary with love and devotion it has a certain value, but if I pray a rosary devoutly but also receive Communion and pray for the intentions of the pope, then I fulfill the conditions set by the church in such a way that that rosary is also supercharged with the merits of many saints who during their lifetimes said their rosaries with intense love and perfect devotion.

I hope that you, my parishioners, have understood a little of what I have been trying to teach in these bulletin messages about indulgences. However, I think that while these theological reflections might be helpful for those who misunderstand, question, or doubt our faith, they have probably been supremely unhelpful and useless to many of my faithful parishioners who have strong faith and do not need all of these explanations. Most of you probably don’t need to know all the proof texts that support this abstract concept. You probably just want to know HOW to gain the jubilee indulgence. You are probably thinking impatiently: “When is Fr. Mark going to tell me how to get one?” To find the answer to the question of how to obtain the special jubilee indulgence, you must read Pope Francis’ document called “Decree on the Granting of Indulgence during the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025.” This document gives a long list of various things that you can do such as making a pilgrimage to your cathedral and attending Mass there, doing a work of mercy, defending life, or giving something up for at least a day. There are handouts at the doors of the church, which give a more extended list, along with the other “normal conditions,” which must be met in order to receive any indulgence (receiving Communion, praying for the pope’s intentions, going to confession within a month, etc.). For this jubilee year, Pope Francis has decided not to emphasize the idea of gaining an indulgence by going through a “holy door” (except in Rome). It is sad that Pope Francis has fallen so ill during the Jubilee Year, which he himself decreed. Certainly, we pray for him and ask that our prayers for him might COUNT DOUBLE! May he be richly blessed by the graces which are pouring through the floodgates of grace which have been opened during this Jubilee Year!

FORMED

Not yet on FORMED?

Visit http://signup.formed.org/.
Enter our parish’s zip code or name.
Enter your name and email.

May God bless you during this special season!

PRESENCE: THE MYSTERY OF THE EUCHARIST

FEARLESS

Set to release on Ash Wednesday, Fearless will help you make this Lent impactful and spiritually fruitful. This new seven-part series is brought to you in partnership with Real Life Catholic and FORMED.

Time and again, the people of God are called to be courageous and "be not afraid." Yet we live in a time where fear seems to guide our very existence. Don’t miss this exciting series with a special weekly guest as we follow Jesus into the wilderness.

Click to watch

FORETOLD

Our world is full of noise. Often, that noise is loud and negative. When was the last time you heard something good on the news? Because of the constant intake of “bad news,” many people no longer believe in the Providence of God, nor trust that he has a plan for us.

Maybe this is you. Perhaps you think God doesn't have a plan for you and your family. But Jesus is the Lord of History, yours included. What was promised in the biblical story came to pass through Jesus, his apostles, and the Church. Ultimately, this biblical history is your history. Just as the prophecies of the Old Testament were fulfilled, you can trust that Jesus will care for you and your story. Encounter this profound mystery and reality for yourself in Foretold.

Click to watch

DIVINE MERCY IN THE SECOND GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD

WHOLE 40: MAKING A SPIRITUAL PLAN FOR LENT

Make a plan for this holy and grace-filled season. Sit down with Dr. Ben Akers and Dr. Elizabeth Klein to discuss the purpose of the season of Lent, how to prepare for it, and why it is such a fruitful season in our life of faith.

Click the button below to sign up for Daily Lenten Reflections with Dr. Tim Gray as he opens up the Scriptures throughout this holy season.

Click to sign up

DAILY REFLECTIONS

ETERNAL REST: THE ART OF DYING WELL

We all have very real questions about death. What happens when we die? What does Scripture teach about death? How do we prepare for the life to come? Explore the mystery of death, dying, and everlasting life through Eternal Rest, a new offering of the Augustine Institute.

Eternal Rest examines the origin of death, the afterlife, and the powerful reality around the sacrament that ushers us into eternal life. Eternal Rest presents the Catholic Church’s teaching about death and God’s response to it with wisdom and truth, gentleness and compassion, so we can think about and prepare for death in the light of Jesus Christ, the Author of life.

Click to watch