LENTEN OPPORTUNIES AT ST. Peter's

Daily Mass
Monday-Friday - 7:30 am 
St Peter’s Church
Monday-Friday - 12:15 pm
Catholic Center Chapel
Saturday - 7:30 AM, St. Peter's Church

Confession
Monday evenings - 7:00 - 7:30 pm
 CC Chapel Office
Saturdays - 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
St. Peter’s Church. 

Eucharistic Adoration
Mondays - 1:00 - 7:30 pm
Catholic Center Chapel

Stations of the Cross
Every Friday in Lent - 7:00 pm
Feb 23, Mar 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31
St. Peter’s Church

Lenten Penance Service
Wednesday, March 29 at 7pm inside the church. Eucharistic adoration will be included during this time.  
 

Lenten Guidelines

The days of fast and abstinence are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. All other Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence. To fast in the Catholic tradition means to limit oneself to one full meal during the day so as to experience hunger. The obligation to fast applies only to Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59. The obligation of abstinence in the Catholic tradition means to abstain from meat and all meat products. All Catholics aged 14 and older are included. 

From the Evening Mass of The Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday until the celebration of the Easter Vigil on the evening of Holy Saturday, the Easter Fast should be observed so that, with uplifted and welcoming hearts, we may be ready to celebrate the joys of the Resurrection. 

The obligation of fast and abstinence, as a whole, is a serious obligation. 
While failure to observe any penitential day in itself may not be considered serious, 
the failure to observe any penitential days at all, or a substantial number of them, 
without good cause, would be considered grave matter.

What Are You Doing For Lent This Year??

When you close your eyes and say “Lent”, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Some answers may be: penance, fasting, fish, ashes, purple, fasting, sacrifice, giving up something (like candy, sweets, or movies).
Why do we do the things we do in Lent? 
Is it because “that’s what I’ve always done”? 
Is it effective in helping you grow closer to God? 
Perhaps it’s good to take a look at various practices and see if one might offer a new challenge and help you grow in the Lord.

Here are some suggestions you may want to try this year:

• Attend daily Mass or read the day’s Scripture. The Catholic Center has a 12:15 PM daily Mass, and St. Peter’s has a 7:30 AM daily Mass. Going to daily Mass has many benefits; not only God’s saving presence in the Eucharist, but also one’s increased awareness of progressing through Lent as one listens to daily Scripture readings and homilies.
• If you can’t get to daily Mass as often as you’d like, just spend some time everyday (even it’s only a few minutes) reading Scripture and reflecting on it. Or do other spiritual reading.
• Examine your conscience nightly. This is a healthy way to take stock of our lives. Rather than being overly hard and nitpicking on yourself, take this time to review your spiritual journey, both sins and successes.In what ways have we sinned against God today? Against the people in our lives? Against ourselves?
• Visit a church. A quiet church (or perhaps our chapel) can be an oasis in a busy day. Stop in for a moment of prayer or reading, or even a longer stay in the presence of God. You may attend Eucharistic Adoration, which we offer every Monday from 1:00 - 7:30 pm in our CC chapel. Spend some quiet time with Our Lord.
• Attend or pray the Stations of the Cross. This private or communal ritual honors the passion and death of Christ. St. Peter’s Church offers Stations of the Cross every Friday evening in Lent, at 7:00 pm, not on Good Friday.
• Give up things. Lent is an especially fitting time to cut back on life’s extras. Remember, the purpose of Lent is not solely to give up things; it is to turn our lives from what does not really satisfy and to fill ourselves with God’s life. Perhaps the best fast is balanced with almsgiving. If you choose to give up a luxury (perhaps that café latte?), take the money you would have spent and give it to charity. Or perhaps you can give up things like impatience, gossip, using bad language, etc.
• Receive Sacramental Penance. Call it Confession, Reconciliation or Penance, but put this sacrament on the “must” list. One of the great things about being a Catholic is that we can admit our guilt and struggles to a priest and experience God’s forgiveness. Those who haven’t gone to Confession in a long time might feel apprehensive, but they may also be surprised at how helpful most priests are when you speak honestly with them, and how rewarding the sacrament is. We offer Confession every Monday evening from 7:00 - 7:30 pm or you may call the parish office (732-545-6820) anytime to schedule an appointment. A Lenten Penance Service at St. Peter's will take place during Lent.
• Volunteer at a local charity. Whether it be a soup kitchen, visiting a nursing home, a hospital or community program, you will likely receive more benefits from volunteering than you expect.
• Share your wealth. Jesus tells his disciples to share their resources quietly with those who go without.

We wish you a Holy and Grace-Filled Lent that brings you closer to Our Lord.