“Lent is marked by two themes, the baptismal and the penitential.”
-Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 109
Jesus’ temptation reveals the way in which the Son of God is Messiah, contrary to the way Satan proposes to him and the way people wish to attribute to him. This is why Christ vanquished the Tempter for us: “For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sinning.” By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert.
-Catechism of the Catholic Church, 540
For some, Lent brings spiritual, physical, and psychological guilt. Lent is the annual experience of examination, fasting, prayer, penance, and almsgiving. Examining our consciences and admitting we have fallen from right relationship with God and others can inspire sorrow. Resolving to discard sinful habits and doing the necessary work of following through can challenge even the most idealistic and determined of us.
Yet there is a glorious “rest of the story” to Lent: the joyful peace that results from penance rightly undertaken. Ash Wednesday’s liturgy itself echoes such peace. Return, rise again, come back to me, it gently invites, as Scripture and music recall God’s ancient promise of mercy, encourages us to overcome fear in order to trust in God’s loving grace. This annual forty-day retreat is celebrated liturgically with a wealth of rites, symbols, devotions, and the traditional practices of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving.
Prayer is a process of listening to and responding to God's daily call; prayer sustains and nurtures our relationship with our triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Without prayer, personal and communal, this relationship is diminished, sometimes to the point of complete silence on our part.
Fasting assists us in getting our own house in order. All of us must deal with areas of servitude, whether concerning smoking or alcohol consumption, misused sexuality, uncontrolled gambling, use of stimulants, immoderate use of the Internet, excessive amounts of television watching, or preoccupations with other forms of entertainment.
Almsgiving calls each disciple of Christ to live a life of justice and charity—virtues that cannot be achieved without grace and openness to conversion. There are always unconverted areas of minds and hearts. There are always factors in our social structures that need uprooting, repair, or restoration.
The disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that are part of our Lenten journey help us to build our spiritual muscles to ascend the mountain of Easter. Take some time to review the opportunities our parish will offer to prepare us for Easter.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SUNDAY MASS Each Sunday Mass is a “little Easter” because it marks the Resurrection—Jesus’ victory over death. This victory is the most significant in salvation history. The Resurrection opens the possibility of our salvation and everlasting life. During the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Jesus Christ becomes truly present in the Eucharist. The bread and wine are not simply signs that lead us to Christ, they are his Real Presence—the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. We invite you to come to the Lord’s Table and fully receive him once again in Holy Communion.
DAILY CELEBRATIONS OF THE EUCHARIST & ADORATION Attendance at daily Mass and reception of Holy Communion is strongly encouraged by the faithful during the season of Lent. Mass is celebrated Monday - Friday at 8:00am and 12:10pm; 8:00am on Saturday at St. Nicholas Church. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is offered every Thursday after 8:00am Mass, concluding with Benediction at 12:00pm.
ASH WEDNESDAY – February 14 is the Church’s annual wake-up call. Our celebrations of the Eucharist on Ash Wednesday, which includes the blessing and distribution of ashes, will be at 8:00am, 12:10pm, and 5:00pm at St. Nicholas Church & 12:10pm and 7:00pm at St. William Church. A portion of our Ash Wednesday collection will be donated to Cross Catholic Outreach’s Wells of Salvation—Lenten outreach to quench thirst and build a brighter future.
THE LAW OF ABSTINENCE: Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence from all meat (beast or fowl). Except for a serious reason, all persons fourteen years old and above are bound by this law.
THE LAW OF FAST: Ash Wednesday (February 14) & Good Friday (March 29) are also days of fasting. This law binds all those between the ages of eighteen to the beginning of their sixtieth year. On these two days, one full meatless meal may be eaten. Two other meatless meals may also be taken sufficient to maintain strength; however, together they should not equal a full meal. Liquids, including milk and fruit juices may be taken between meals.
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION (CONFESSIONS) We offer times for confessions every Saturday from 2:30pm – 3:30pm at St. William Church. During Lent, we will offer confessions each Wednesday from 7:00pm – 8:00pm, also at St. William Church. Our Lenten Penance Liturgy is on Wednesday, March 20 at 7:00pm at St. William Church. Confessions are also offered on Good Friday (March 29) from 9:00am – 11:00am at St. William Church.
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION On the First Sunday of Lent, February 18, we will celebrate the Rite of Sending to Election with our catechumens at 8:00am, 11:00am, and 5:00pm Mass. They will celebrate their Rite of Election on Monday, February 19 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph. On the Second Sunday of Lent, February 25, those baptized adults preparing for Reception into Full Communion will celebrate the Rite of Call to Continuing Conversion at 11:00am at St. William Church. On the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays of Lent, (March 3, 10, 17) we celebrate the Scrutinies with our elect using the Cycle (A) readings at the 8:00am, 11:00am, and 5:00pm Mass. Both our catechumens and candidates will celebrate the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil on March 30 at St. William Church.
STEWARDS OF OUR COMMON HOME We are all familiar with the three traditional actions of Lent – prayer, alms, and fasting. One action that combines all three is the Catholic Relief Society (CRS) Rice Bowl. We invite each household to pay attention to what we eat, eat less, and combine this with prayers of thanks before meals and prayers for the hungry. Consider taking home a small Rice Bowl kit prepared by Catholic Relief Services. Learn how our simple actions make a big difference for many others around the world. 75% of the Rice Bowl collection goes to help our overseas programs that provide relief and build sustainable programs for many under resourced people. 25% of the Rice Bowl collection supports grants for parish programs in our diocese that feed the hungry. We will collect your Rice Bowls starting on Palm Sunday; the preferred method to donate is online here. Learn more on our CRS Rice Bowl page.
NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL Over 70 people participated in the NER small groups at our parish and YOU can still experience the Jesus and the Eucharist series that some have called pivotal for their faith journey. This Lent we invite all who have not been able to enjoy this inspiring program, or those who want to experience it again, to watch from home with your family or even by yourself. The seven sessions each include prayer, lessons (1 hour) and discussion (1 hour) that can be watched during Lent as a beautiful act of prayer for this season. You can view the video sessions and download the worksheets from this link.
40 DAYS FOR LIFE Helps save lives by praying for an end to abortion in our country (February 14 – March 24) through prayer and fasting. Knowing that “with God, all things are possible,” people of faith and conscience unite in 40 days of prayer and fasting. Prayer keeps us rooted in the fact that it is our desire to carry out God’s will. Fasting is a sacrifice that helps us reach beyond our own limitations with God’s help. Visit www.fortydaysforlife/en/sanjose
SOUP SUPPER & STATIONS OF THE CROSS will take place each Friday during Lent (February 17 - March 22) at St. William Church. Join us as we pray the Stations of the Cross & Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at 5:30pm (Confessions available during that hour), concluding with a vegetarian soup meal at 6:30pm in St. William Hall. You can sign up to bring soups at this link.
LENT PARISH MISSION Fr. Thomas Vendetti LC will present the Lenten Parish Mission titled “The Paschal Myster and the Eucharist” on March 12, 13 and 14. The morning sessions will begin with Mass at 8am and then present a shorter version of the Parish Mission immediately following the morning Mass at 830am. Coffee and pastries hospitality will follow the morning sessions.
Evening talks begin at 7pm, with Confessions beginning at 6:15pm and a Cheese and wine reception at 6:15pm.
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TENEBRAE (From Light to Darkness) is a liturgical service held during the last days preceding the Easter Triduum.
It includes readings from the Book of Lamentations and a gradual extinguishing of candles, ending in total darkness.
Join us on Spy Wednesday, March 27 at 7:00pm at St. Nicholas Church.
MORNING PRAYER (LAUDS) Since there are no morning or afternoon Masses during the Easter Triduum
(Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday), we will celebrate Morning Prayer, the official prayer of the Church as found in the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) at 8:00am at St. Nicholas Church.
HOLY WEEK Begins with the traditional Solemn Procession of Palms on Passion Sunday, March 24, continuing into the Easter Triduum: Holy Thursday's Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, March 28 at 7:00pm at St. William Church; Good Friday's Celebration of the Lord's Passion, March 29 at 12:00pm at St. William Church and 6:00pm at St. Nicholas Church. The Easter Vigil (Liturgies of Word, Initiation, and Eucharist) is March 30 at 8:00pm at St. William Church.
EASTER SUNDAY is the “Feast of feasts” and the “Solemnity of solemnities.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “Beginning with the Easter Triduum as its source of light, the new age of the Resurrection fills the whole liturgical year with its brilliance” (CCC 1168). Easter Sunday Mass at St. Nicholas Church is at 8:00am, 10:00am, and 12:00pm in French. Easter Sunday Mass at St. William Church is at 9:00am (followed by an Easter Egg Hunt - sign up here) and 11:00am.
The celebration of the Paschal Triduum of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection is the culmination of the liturgical year. We invite you to undertake a journey of preparation with the knowledge that our being conformed to Christ is a priceless gift of God’s mercy. We invite every parishioner to walk with us on the road to the Empty Tomb right here at
Saint Nicholas and Saint William Parish.