Lent 2025

March 5 - April 17, 2025

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Once again we enter into the great season of Lent. It’s that season in our liturgical life when our hearts and minds prayerfully review in a special way God’s goodness to us and our often inadequate and sometimes sinful response.

Across millennia and various spiritual traditions, prayer, fasting and almsgiving are key elements of the penitential journey. This article from America Magazine ties together beautifully these Lenten spiritual practices, making clear the very constitutive link between our personal faith journey and justice, our relationship with others. The piece gives a wonderful context for various almsgiving opportunities during Lent, including Catholic Relief Services’ Operation Rice Bowl (boxes available at church entrances) and our annual Towel Drive, which we do at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at the end of Lent and benefits those served by the St. Vincent de Paul Society. I encourage all of us to take the savings of our fasting from Starbucks, chocolate, diet soda or whatever this Lent and connect our personal journey to the justice and charity called for by Sts. John Chrysostom and Augustine (by the Gospel, actually!). Also, see the list below for other spiritual opportunities offered at St. Ignatius during Lent.

Oremus pro invicem, throughout our Lenten journey.

Fr. Greg

[Letter, with minor changes, originally published 2024.]

Opportunities during Lent

• In addition to 3:45 pm on Saturdays and by appointment, during Lent, Reconciliation will also be available, Wednesdays, 6:30 to 7:30 pm, in the church.
• Come to the Lenten Reconciliation Retreat, Saturday, April 12, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm. Come Back to Me, a Lenten Reconciliation Retreat, will include Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, reflection, prayer and opportunities for Reconciliation.
• Join the St. Ignatius Parish Laudato Si' Circle in a A Pilgrimage of Hope in Action to join young people as they lead us in Public Witness and advocacy meetings in Sacramento, Monday April 7th, 2025 at the State Capitol.
• Lectio Divina is a prayer practice which in a small group setting includes meditation on Scripture and sharing responses. Learn more about Lectio Divina during Lent
• Stations of the Cross, Wednesdays at 6 pm and Fridays at 8:45 am (following the 8 am Mass). 
• Learn about the “Rice Bowl,” supporting Catholic Relief Services. See also their resources for families.
• An app called the Jesuit Pilgrimage app is downloadable from the App Store or Google Play. Search “Jesuit Pilgrimage.” Be sure to enable push notifications. It is a comprehensive digital guide to sacred sites associated with St Ignatius of Loyola and the Jesuit order, and a great thing to do during Lent.
• You might incorporate the Examen into your day during Lent. This prayer was the only prayer St. Ignatius made mandatory for all of his companions. Even today Jesuits and those who practice Ignatian spirituality incorporate it into their daily routine as a means of determining where God's grace is active in their daily lives. Some call it "a simple, life-changing prayer." 
• Breaking Open the Word Scripture Study Group meets Tuesdays afternoons at 4:00 PM on Zoom. If you love the Word of God and want to more fully engage in Sunday liturgy, this is the group for you. The link and passcode are here. Each week they study the First Reading, Psalm, and Gospel for the upcoming Sunday. Newcomers welcome!
• Thursday, April 17, 6:30 pm, Holy Thursday Towel Collection. Those attending the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday are invited to bring new or nearly new towels. These will be collected during Mass and donated to the St. Vincent de Paul Center.
• Women Preach: Meditations on the Passion will be Good Friday, April 18, 12 pm - 1:30 pm at St. Ignatius Church. Meditations on Christ's Journey to the Cross will be offered by women. Details coming soon.