Ash Wednesday and Lenten Programs

Ash Wednesday is February 18th, 2015

Mass times are as follows: 7:00 am, 12 noon, 3:00 pm SERVICE, 5:30 pm, 7:00 pm

Join as we begin the penitential season of Lent together, preparing our hearts for the joy of Easter.  Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence.

Daily Masses at Saint Agnes are 7:00 am everyday, and in LENT ONLY 5:30 pm Monday-Fridays.

Confessions are offered Wednesdays 6:30-8:00 pm,and Saturdays at 3:00 pm.

What to do in Lent? How can we make this a holy season, growing spiritually and in our relationship with our Lord? Here are five quick thoughts:

1. Sacrifice something - give something up as an offering to the Lord. Put this thing out of your life for a time, and allow God to fill that void with His grace.
2. Give alms - give from your need, not just your excess. Give money saved by making sacrifices to the poor, lonely, forgotten, and mistreated.  Unite yourself to those who suffer, and give with a sincere and generous heart.
3. Give time - start a habit of caring for someone that God has put in your life. This may mean beginning a commitment to volunteer, visiting a neighbor in need, or giving more dedicated time to your family.
4. Go to Confession - recognize your sins, faults, failings, and struggles. Confess them to the Lord sincerely, and ask for His help. God is faithful! Then go out and make amends with those whom you have hurt. Generously forgive those who have hurt you. Offer others the same new beginning which Christ has offered to each of us.
5. Make a habit of Prayer - start spending time with God, habitually. For some this means going to Daily Mass. For others, it means praying the Rosary, the Daily Readings, or other set devotions. For others this means cracking open the Scriptures. For others it means sitting quietly and listening to God. Whatever way you pray, just do it.

CONFESSION - “The Light is On for You”

Do you need a new start? You can go to confession any Wednesday night during Lent from 6:30-8:00 pm Saint Agnes, or any parish or chapel in the Boston Diocese.  All people are welcome to come to the Heavenly Feast, so start with a good confession to our Lord.

To replace our sins with virtues may seem like a daunting task, but fortunately we can follow the example of the saints who have successfully defeated these sins in their lifetimes. They provide us with a way forward so that we, too, can live holy, virtuous lives.
(from: Seven Saints for Seven Virtues)

40 Days for Life

Our community will join hundreds of other cities on February 22-March 29 to participate in a life-saving campaign made up of prayer and fasting, community outreach and peaceful vigils.  Saint Agnes has committed to prayer outside of Planned Parenthood on Sundays from 2:00-3:00 pm, beginning February 22nd.  We will leave Saint Agnes parking lot at 1:30 pm each Sunday.  We invite you to join us at least once during the campaign.  For more information, email Eileen Cahill (SAParishforLife [at] gmail.com).

Making Music Praying Twice

This children’s program incorporates learning about music with the liturgical seasons of the year.  Classes are small and appropriate for children birth-5 years.  Session II, encompassing the seasons of Ordinary Time (Winter) and Lent began on January 16^th, with classes offered on Fridays at 9:15 and 10:30 am. The 10:30 class has 3 openings and the 9:15 class has 7 openings.  Email Dot Bowe (DBowe@ssjl.org) for more information or to inquire about joining the class for Lent, or on a trial basis.  All classes will be held at Saint Joseph Parish, 130 Common Street, Belmont.

Jesus in the North End – www.one4boston.org

This wonderful diocesan event is targeted for Catholic Young Adults, although everyone is welcome to join in this evening of Adoration, Confession, and Evangelization.  Throw in a meatless Italian dinner beforehand, and it makes a great date to share with someone, and time spent together with our Lord.

February 20^th AND March 20^th at Saint Leonard’s Parish in Boston’s North End

7:30 pm - Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration

9:00 pm - Mass

10:00 pm - Social Time

**Confession and Evangelization are held throughout the event.**

Catholic Men’s Conference – Offered by the Diocese of Worcester (www.firstmensconf.org)

Saturday, March 21^st at the DCU Center, Worcester

Doors open at 7:30 am for registration, followed by speakers, lunch, confession and Mass

$30 for students, $45 for adults before March 2^nd, $60 for adults after March 2^nd – Purchase online at www.firstmensconf.org

**Hear and meet great national Catholic speakers, rediscover and renew your faith, offer your confession to the Lord, and celebrate the Eucharist with other men!

FIAT! for Discerning Women

Fiat is a discernment group for single women considering a vocation to religious life in the Catholic Church. February 25th at March 25th at 7:00 pm - Our Lady Help of Christians Church, 573 Washington Street, Newton

February Topic – “The Religious Vocation of Missionaries”

For more information please contact Sister Marian Batho at 617-746-5637 (Sr_Marian_Batho [at] rcab.org).

Adult Education for the New Evangelization

Adult Education will resume with a new seminar topic on February 25th at 7:00 pm!  This spring and summer, we will continue in Father Robert Barron's Catholicism series, using his study course specifically on the New Evangelization and the call of the Church in the modern world.  This topic will consist of SIX meetings, on the fourth Wednesdays of the month at 7:00 pm in the Saint Agnes Parish Center, finishing in July.  You need not come to every meeting to reap the benefits of fruitful discussion and friendly faces.  Join us when you can!  Light discussion and refreshments will follow the 90 minute program.  For more information, please email Tom Harvey (THarveyEsq [at] aol.com).

Men’s and Women’s Bible Studies

• Men’s Bible Study – Every other Thursday at 8:00 pm in the Saint Agnes Parish Center
  Next Meeting is February 19^th at 8:00 pm
  Currently studying First Corinthians, for information contact Charlie Bailey (CBailey2 [at] gmail.com)
  
  
• Women’s Bible Study – Every other Tuesday at 7:30 pm in the Saint Agnes Parish Center
  Next Meeting is February 24^th at 7:30 pm
  Currently studying a Bible Overview, for information contact Muriel Fudala (Muriel.Fudala [at] gmail.com)