Lent

Real Presence, Real Future

Bishop Robert Brennan calls upon the Diocese of Columbus to celebrate Jesus Christ’s Real Presence in Eucharist in a special way this Lent. Starting on Ash Wednesday, February 17, the diocese will launch 40 Days of Adoration. Every day for 40 days, a different parish throughout the Diocese will host Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for Adoration throughout the day. Some of the hosting parishes will expose the Eucharist for 24 hours or longer. Others will expose the Blessed Sacrament after their morning Mass and conclude with Benediction in the evening.

On March 15th, St. Joseph is hosting adoration for the Diocese from 6:00am – 9:00pm at the Church.

Download:

• Diocese 40 days of Adoration Schedule
• How to Prepare your Heart for Adoration Guide
• Letter from Bishop Brennan

St. Joseph will have Stations of the Cross every Friday evening at 7:00pm at the Church with the exception of March 19th to celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph and on April 2nd for Good Friday. 

If you are unable to join us in-person, the USCCB created a Stations of the Cross guide with a 20 minute audio version to listen to and other prayer guides to follow. You may also download a children's version of the Stations of the Cross.

Three tips to deepen your relationship with God during the 40 days of Lent.

1. Participate in the sacraments.
2. Help those in need around you.
3. Sacrifice something that's hard for you.

Lenten Alms Change Lives

40 Days to Peace and Union with God

Have your best Lent ever with this introduction to mental prayer and beautiful daily Gospel reflections taken from The Better Part! Download a Daily Mental Prayer Through the Better Part, a Lenten journey written by Fr. John Bartunek, LC, and introduction by Dan Burke.

Courtesy of SpiritualDirection.com and RCSpirituality.org.

Led by the Spirit – Daily Lenten Reflections with Dr. Tim Gray

Journey with Dr. Tim Gray by signing up for Daily Lenten Reflections. Each day you will receive in your inbox a short video which features Dr. Gray commenting on the daily Mass readings, explaining the Scriptures, and providing you with concrete ideas on how to apply them to your life. Available for free with our Formed subscription, code RFTRYT.


 

Family Lenten Promises

Talk about the three pillars of Lent and decide what you would like to do as a family. Fill out these Lenten Promise Cards and post them in your kitchen for everyone to see. Help each other by holding one another accountable and praying for one another. Lent is a particular time for us as individuals and as families to reflect on God's grace. When we do this, by His grace, we can be happy, holy families. 


 

Let's Learn about Lent

Join Brother Francis in this compact presentation of what Lent is all about and how we observe it as Catholics. Great for the whole family! Watch the short, 10 minute video. Available for free with our Formed subscription, code RFTRYT.

 

Drawing God

The "Drawing God" children's book is sure to capture a child’s faith imagination. Download these creative companion resources for LENT from C21 Center at Boston College.



 

Lenten Tree

Courtesy of Courtney Defeo

Lenten Table

A place to focus on almsgiving, fasting, and devotion Create a space for a simple table decoration in Lenten colors. Items that you can display on the table could include:

• Sacrifice bean jar that is filled with a jelly bean for each good deed your children complete to be eaten on Easter morning.

• Jesus Tree or Lenten Tree at the center with hanging bible verses, symbols of Jesus dying for our sins or images of biblical scenes.

• Fasting rocks showing each family members items they are giving up or adding to their day. 

• Prayer basket including cards of the people you want to pray for each day – a great use for the Christmas cards received.

• Alms jar to collect money during Lent for a cause your family feels passionate towards.

Reverse Lent Challenge

Don’t give something up ~ Take something on!

1. Jot a note. Jot a quick note each day to one person in your life. To make it easy, purchase some simple note cards and stamps. Go ahead and place the stamps on the envelopes along with your return address. Place the pile of notecards on your nightstand or next to your favorite chair in the living room. Have your addresses handy. Each morning upon arising or every night just before bed, write a special message to someone. Or if you are a television watcher, do it during the commercials. At the end of Lent you will have made 40 souls smile.
    
2. Grab your phone. Once a day during Lent, call someone in your life for no other reason than to tell them how glad you are that they are in your life. Set an alarm on your phone for each evening to remind you it is time to call someone!
    
3. Lighten a load. Be on the lookout for ways you can lighten the load of someone in your family or at work. Was your son running late for school today and didn’t have time to make his bed? Make it for him, leaving a sticky note that says, “Love you!” Or do a child’s chore for them that day. Empty the dishwasher or sweep the floor and let them have some extra time to do what they would like. Pack your spouse’s favorite lunch. Take out the trash even though you might not be the one who normally does it. Think of what might help out a coworker. Or pick up their favorite coffee drink as a surprise to help them pick up the pace as they work. Be on the lookout for ways to lighten the load of one person each day.
    
4. Help a stranger. While out and about, make it your aim to help a stranger. Open doors. Carry packages into the post office. Help load grocery bags into their vehicle. Grab change out of your purse when they are fumbling to find some in theirs. Pay for their drink or meal. Let them go in front of you in the line at the bank or DMV. {Now THAT is sacrifice!!!} Simply do one kind gesture each day for a stranger.
    
5. Serve a servant. Who serves you in life? The mail carrier, garbage collector, your child’s teacher or principal, the pastor? What about the grocery store clerk or gas station attendant? The team mom who schedules all the snacks for your child’s sports team? Treat them to a little something as a way to serve them and show your gratitude. Below is a favorite treat to make. They freeze well so you can bake up several batches and grab a few out each day to give. For a clever packaging idea, place these in cellophane corsage bags from the florist and tie shut with a pastel curly ribbon. Attach a hand written tag that says, “I’m grateful for you!”