March is the season of Lent for us at Sacred Heart Parish and throughout the Roman Catholic world as well as other Christian traditions. Beginning with Ash Wednesday, collectively and as individuals, we enter a time of awareness that hopefully brings us to new life and a deeper relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Through prayer, fasting and alms giving we recognize our need for a Savior and enter into the mysteries of the compassion and love that only God can offer. Lent is more than crosses, ash and fasting, or it should be. In the weeks ahead, the Sacred Heart Parish family will have the opportunities for growth in holiness through quiet times of prayer, opportunities to share our blessings with others through fasting and almsgiving, sacramental reconciliation and reflection. The somewhat somber liturgies of the Lenten Season invite our hearts to open up to the graces God pours out to us in mercy so we can become the best version of ourselves. We fast from our sinfulness in order to embrace the joy and peace God gives us in the resurrection of Christ in the Easter Season.
In addition to our daily Masses (Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri.) at 8 a.m. in the morning, we will pray the Stations of the Cross every Friday evening beginning at 6:30 p.m.. There will be a special presentation of the stations by our young people in Religious Education on Friday, March 31, also at 6:30 p.m. The church remains open for quiet prayer time each day from about 5:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. On Monday evenings, in addition to a Eucharistic Holy Hour, the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated from 6-7 p.m. as well as Saturday from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m., or by calling the parish office for an appointment at 860-668-4246.
On Monday, March 13 we will have a special evening program of music and prayer for spiritual reflection. The program will be conducted by members of the parish, and all are welcome to attend.
Lent will wrap up in early April with Palm Sunday, April 2. Our Knights of Columbus Council will be hosting a Pancake Breakfast after all of the morning Masses. Proceeds will be donated to the Knights of Columbus Ukrainian Relief efforts in Poland and the Ukraine.
The Knights of Columbus will also assist with an Easter Egg hunt for children on Holy Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Campus.
The Blessing of the Easter Foods will take place also on Holy Saturday Morning (April 8) at 10 a.m. in the church.