Saint Jerome Church
P.O. Box 38
Fancy Farm, KY 42039
E-mail: stjerome@wk.net
Rev. David Willett
Phone: 270-623-8181
Fax: 270-623-6341
Business hours: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Saint Jerome Catholic Church
LENTEN JOURNEY 2008
"Come to full Life in Christ"

SUGGESTED LENTEN PRACTICES

  1. Attend Mass & receive the Eucharist at least once during the week - 8:00 hrs.

  2. Pray Grace before and after meals - giving each family member a turn to lead.

  3. Give up some regularly consumed snack foods. If you are accustomed to certain foods every day, giving up one or more foods will certainly remind you that it is Lent time and a time of special penance, i.e. morning coffee w/less sugar/cream, or that favorite dessert, or soft drink or alcohol or smoking.

  4. Give up reading the morning newspaper, or first spend time in prayer (at least ten to fifteen minutes) before the newspaper.

  5. Lights out in home at least 1/2 hour earlier on weekday evenings. You'll be surprised how well you'll feel the next day even if you missed a special TV show/movie. Families spend 10 minutes together in some prayer before bed.

  6. The neighbor no one seems to like! Find a way to be friendly.

  7. Write a short letter to a friend, or family member living away, each week.

  8. Don't listen to your car radio while driving...instead pray!

  9. Work on healing a relationship with a friend or family member or neighbor.

  10. Subscribe to and read a Catholic Periodical that come directly to your home.

  11. Ask a friend, especially a non-practicing Catholic, to attend Mass with you on Sunday or weekday Mass (8:00 A.M. or 6:30 Wed).

  12. Volunteer to use your talents for one ministry in our "Catholic Community" including Religious Education. We need more help in several areas.

  13. Really prepare for Mass prior to coming to the chapel by:

    • using the bathroom just prior to leaving home for Mass at church.

    • talk with/to the family about truly hearing God's Word and the purpose of attending Mass. Sing "fully" the announced songs & fully participate in prayers.

    • arrive & be seated in church 10-15 minutes prior to the start of Mass & Lenten Services. Spend this time really preparing for what is about to happen.

  14. Review and discuss the six commandments (Precepts) of the Church*.

  15. Review and discuss the ten commandments of God (Exodus 20).

  16. Attend and participate in weekly Lenten Services as offered (5:45 PM Wednesday's).

  17. Use Lenten booklets or guides to pray with family regularly during Lent.

  18. Receive the sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance/Confession) during Lent by attending our Communal Penance Service. Our Communal Penance Service will be March 2nd at 4:30 P.M. w/6 priests hearing.

 

GUIDELINES FOR LENT

For you are dirt and to dirt you shall return (Gen 3:19b)
Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel (Mark 1:15)

  1. The time of Lent is to be observed by Catholics as a special season of prayer, penance, and works of charity to turn our hearts and minds more fully to our God.

  2. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, in particular, are the most important penitential days of the Liturgical Church Year. These days are both days of fast and abstinence. All Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from red meat.

  3. The rule of fasting states that only one full meal a day can be taken. Two other small meals, "sufficient to maintain strength", are allowed but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals breaks the fast but drinking water or juice does not. The rule of fasting obliges all Catholics from age 18 to 59.

  4. Abstinence refers to the eating of red meat. Under the present law, it does not include egg or milk products, meat soups or gravies. The common estimation of the community is used to determine what falls under the category of meat. The rule of abstinence binds all Catholics 14 years old or older.

  5. The substantial observance of the laws of fast and abstinence is a serious obligation. Those whose work or health would be impaired are excused from fasting and abstaining. The individual conscience can make that decision, if there is a proper cause to excuse. A more serious reason should be present to be excused from the Ash Wednesday and Good Friday penance.

  6. Self-imposed fasting on the other weekdays is recommended. Abstinence on Fridays of Lent, unless a serious hardship, is mandatory by our Archdiocese. The Peace Pastoral of the American Bishops, stating that prayer is incomplete without penance urges every Friday abstinence as something all American Catholics should offer up for the sake of world peace.

  7. Parents and teachers should see to it that even those who are not bound by laws of fast and abstinence because of age are brought up in an atmosphere that is conducive to a sense of penance.

  8. The Liturgical directions of the Sacramentary are to be faithfully observed regarding all special Holy Week Rites.

  9. The faithful should be clearly and positively encouraged to receive the Sacrament of Penance during Lent. There should be adequate time scheduled for Reconciliation before Easter. Group Penance Services should not be scheduled for the last days of Holy Week.

  10. The RCIA is incorporated into the liturgy during Lent. On the Second, Third, and Fourth Sundays of Lent the Scrutinies take place during Mass.

  11. Those being initiated into the Church on Holy Saturday may be Confirmed at the same time by the celebrant.
 

STUDY SUGGESTIONS FOR
FAMILY AND PERSONAL SPIRITUAL GROWTH
THROUGH LENT 2008

There are several and various materials, booklets and magazines available at the church for you to take and use - for example:

  • The Little Black Book (for adults) - for daily prayer during the days of Lent

  • The Little Purple Book (for kids)

  • Handbook for Today's Catholic - available in the literature rack at the chapel

  • Catechism of the Catholic Church

Be encouraged to study and review various subjects for a half hour or an hour during the week. You can even make a kind-of game of who really knows what, and where to find in the Bible prayers or teachings, i.e. Hail Mary, Our Father, Ten Commandments, Magnificate, etc. Take time to study the Bible especially during the Lent and Easter time. This is only one suggestion, but there are many others.

This is your Lent, and it will be up to you to make this time a time of prayer and growth and preparation. May this season of Lent be a time of "change of heart" or "metanoia". If this can happen, then Easter will be a season of Joy and Hope. The end result to both these seasons will be a greater sense of God, who is love.

The Way of the Cross each Wednesday of Lent at 5:45 PM (sharp) at the Church.

May you have a blessed and meaningful Lent!

Lenten Services during Lent will be announced in the Sunday bulletin each week - please look for them in the weekly Sunday bulletin. For further information please call the Parish Center at 623-8181.

Operation Rice Bowl is Catholic Relief Services' Lenten program. Millions of Catholics join together through Operation Rice Bowl and reach out in solidarity with those who struggle with hunger and poverty through prayer, fasting, learning, and giving during the Lenten season. 75% of our contributions support Catholic Relief Services' development projects overseas and Lenten education activities in the United States. 25% of our contributions remain in our diocese to fund local hunger and poverty alleviation programs. The children are encouraged to participate in Operation Rice Bowl and return them at the March 8-9 masses.

SPECIAL Holy Week Bulletin will be available by Palm Sunday!

  

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