Lent
How To Meaningfully Observe Lent
Lent is a 40-day period of reflection, repentance, and renewal leading up to Easter. All Catholics are encouraged to observe Lent through the practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Here are some suggestions for how you can prepare for and observe Lent:
Follow
Lenten Regulations
The days of both fast and abstinence during Lent are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the "paschal fast" to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily His Resurrection. The other Fridays of Lent are day of Abstinence.
FASTING
1. On a day of fast, only one (1) full meal is permitted, OR two smaller meals, which, if added together, would not exceed the main meal in quantity.
Those between the ages of
18 and 59 are
obliged to fast.
Abstinence
On a day of abstinence, no meat may be eaten. Those who have reached the age of 14 are obliged by the law of abstinence.
2. The obligation to observe the laws of Fast and Abstinence "substantially" or as a whole is a serious obligation.
3. The Fridays of the year, outside of Lent, are designated as days of penance, but each individual may substitute for the traditional abstinence from meat some other practice of voluntary self-denial as penance.
4. The time for fulfilling the Paschal Precept (Easter Duty*) extends from the First Sunday of Lent, February 20 to The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, May 31, 2026.
PRAYER
- Spend time each day in prayer. This can be a few minutes in the morning or evening, or longer periods of time for deeper reflection.
- Try different kinds of prayer, traditional liturgical prayers, spontaneous prayers that come from the heart, and lectio divina (a practice of slow, meditative reading and reflection on a passage of scripture).
ALMSGIVING
- This is the practice of giving to those in need, whether through donations or acts of service.
- Consider giving to organizations that support the poor, the sick, or other vulnerable populations.
- It is not just about giving money or time, but also about giving of yourself. Be open to the ways in which God may be calling you to serve others and to be a presence of love and compassion in the world.
RECONCILIATION
Regularly attending confession is the only way to keep one's soul free of mortal sin and prepared to receive the Eucharist.
If it has been some time since you last made the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we invite you to take advantage of the Lenten Penance Service on Tuesday, March 24th in the main church.
Priests will be available to hear confession in English, Korean and Spanish from the hours of 3PM to 5:30 PM and 7 PM to 10:30 PM.
Lenten Schedule
Ash Wednesday Mass
8:30 AM, 12:10 PM, 5:30 PM in English
8 PM in Korean
Daily Weekday 5:30 PM Mass
Starting Feb 19: Weekdays during Lent there will be a daily 5:30 PM Mass.
Friday Stations of the Cross
After the 8:30 AM Mass and 5:30 PM Mass (English)
After the 8:00 PM Mass (Korean)
Eucharistic Adoration
(Except Holy Week)
Starting Fri Feb 20
Fridays: 7 - 8 PM
Saturdays: 4:30 PM
Cardinal Tobin to Celebrate Bilingual Masses
Main Church
10 AM & 12 PM
Lenten Retreat with Sister Donna Ciangiona
Main Church
3 PM - 5 PM
Lenten Retreat, Korean
Main Church
2 PM - 4 PM
Lenten Retreat, Korean
Main Church
3 PM - 5 PM
Lenten Penance Service
Priests will be available to hear confession in English, Korean and Spanish in the Main Church from
3 PM - 5:30 PM
7 PM - 10:30 PM