Our 2022 Lenten Journey Sacred Heart Parish and St. Joseph O'Brien County Parish
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Our 2022 Lenten Journey
Sacred Heart Parish and
St. Joseph O’Brien County Parish
Our Lenten journey this year begins with Ash Wednesday on March 2.
These days of Lent are a reminder that we need a savior, and that person is
Jesus. As we spend these 40 days engaged in fasting, almsgiving, and prayer, we
root out the sinfulness of our lives so that we might deepen our relationship with
God.
Please take a few moments and review the many opportunities that are available
for you to take advantage of during this Lenten season.
May our Lenten journey bring us to a deeper faith and renewed heart so that we
can truly celebrate Easter.
Visit our website and Facebook pages for more information!
spencersacredheart.com
https://www.facebook.com/SpencerSacredHeart
https://www.facebook.com/SpencerSacredHeartSchool
https://www.facebook.com/ObrienCoFaithFormation
Important Dates During Lent
Ash Wednesday: Marks the start of Lent and the time for penance. Obligatory
day of fasting (ages 18 to 59) and abstinence from meat (ages 14 and over).
Fridays of Lent: Obligatory abstinence from meat. All Fridays (even outside of
Lent) are days of penance.
Holy Thursday: Lent ends and the Holy Triduum begins in the evening with the
celebration of the Last Supper.
Good Friday: The anniversary of the Crucifixion of Christ (no Mass). Obligatory
day of fasting and abstinence from meat.
Holy Saturday: We await the fulfillment of the Paschal Mystery. Final day of
Lenten fasting (Easter Vigil).
Sacred Triduum: The period of three days (Holy Thursday + Good Friday + Holy
Saturday) during which we remember Christ’s Passion, ending at the Easter
Vigil (Saturday evening).
Easter Sunday: Lent has ended and the joy begins, the day of Christ’s
resurrection, the pinnacle Christian feast of the entire liturgical year. This is the
celebration of Christ’s victory over sin and death for us by his passion, death,
and resurrection from the dead on Easter Sunday.
Mass times for Ash Wednesday – March 2
Spencer Sacred Heart 8:30 AM
Hartley St. Joseph 12:00 PM
Primghar St. Anthony 6:00 PM
Spencer Sacred Heart 7:30 PM
Ashes will be distributed at each of these liturgies.
A Prayer for Ash Wednesday
Gracious God, today begins a period of inner reflection and examination. The days
stretch before me and invite me inward to that silent, holy space that holds your
Spirit. This special time beckons me to see my life through Christ's eyes and the truth
and reality of your love incarnate. Give me the grace to enter the space of these
days with anticipation of our meeting. And, when I open my soul to your presence,
let your loving kindness flow over me and seep into the pockets of my heart. I ask
this for the sake of your love.
Mass Times for Holy Week
Holy Thursday: April 14 Good Friday Service (No Mass): April 15
Hartley St. Joseph 6:00 PM Spencer Sacred Heart 12:00 PM
Spencer Sacred Heart 7:30 PM Primghar St. Anthony 7:00 PM
Holy Saturday : April 16 Easter Sunday: April 17
Primghar St. Anthony 7:00 PM Spencer Sacred Heart 7:30 AM
(Msgr. Seifried) Hartley St. Joseph 9:00 AM
Spencer Sacred Heart 7:30 PM
Prayers for Holy Week
Lenten Prayer for Holy Thursday
Jesus, in these last few days leading up to Easter, as I recall your passion and
death, let me remember that, above all, I am called to feed your sheep. You have
given me a model of how to live; may I strive to be all that you created me for,
spreading the love of God and the truth of our Catholic faith wherever I am able.
You are the way, the truth, and the life. Amen.
Lenten Prayer for Good Friday
Jesus, no one knows change better than you. You died on the cross, and three
days later you rose from the dead. Forty days later you ascended into heaven and
left the world transformed for the rest of time. Help me to transform my soul, to
die to sin and death and be reborn in your love and eternal life. Amen.
Lenten Prayer for Holy Saturday
Jesus, you are courage incarnate. As you hung on the cross for my sins and the
sins of the world, you showed me that all things are possible. You knew that life
did not end on the cross. It was only the beginning of a new and glorious eternal
life. Amen.
Lenten Prayer for Easter
Almighty Father, I thank you for the gift of your son, Jesus Christ, who rose from
the dead and redeemed humankind. Fill us with the fire of the Holy Spirit, that
we may be faithful disciples and enthusiastic witnesses of our Catholic faith.
Alleluia, Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed. Amen.
Lenten Requirements for Catholics
Fasting: Eating less food than normal (does not necessarily mean no food).
What you can eat: One normal, full-sized meal, and two smaller meals which if
combined would not exceed one full meal.
Why: “The ultimate goal of fasting is to help each one of us to make a complete gift
of self to God” –Pope Benedict XVI
Abstinence: Do not eat meat.
Why: “Catholic peoples from time immemorial have set apart Friday for special
penitential observance by which they gladly suffer with Christ that they may one
day be glorified with Him. This is the heart of the tradition of abstinence from meat
on Friday where that tradition has been observed in the holy Catholic Church.”
-U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
The rules for fasting in the United States are:
Every person 14 years or older must abstain from meat (and items made with
meat) on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent.
Every person between the age of 18 and 59 (beginning of 60th year) must fast on
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Every person 18 years of age or older must abstain from meat (and items made
with meat) on all other Fridays of the year, unless he or she substitutes some
other form of penance for abstinence.
Those that are excused from fast and abstinence outside the age limits include
the physically or mentally ill including individuals suffering from chronic illnesses
such as diabetes. Also excluded are pregnant or nursing women. In all cases,
common sense should prevail, and ill persons should not further jeopardize their
health by fasting.
-U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
Confession: Confessions are available on the evenings of Stations of the Cross and
every Saturday at 3:30 PM at Spencer Sacred Heart and every Sunday at 8:30 AM at
Hartley St. Joseph.
Almsgiving: Material generosity to the less fortunate.
What you can give: Money, goods, acts of charity.
Why: “Let us also love our neighbors as ourselves. Let us have charity and humility.
Let us give alms because these cleanse our souls from the stains of sin. Men lose all
the material things they leave behind them in this world, but they carry with them
the reward of their charity and the alms they give. For these they will receive from
the Lord the reward and recompense they deserve.” -- St. Francis of Assisi
Stations of the Cross/Confession/Mass
St. Joseph O’Brien County
Stations of the Cross will start at 7:00 PM on Mondays. Father will hear
confessions immediately following Stations of the Cross but before Mass at
7:30 PM.
March 7 Hartley St. Joseph
March 14 Primghar St. Anthony
March 21 Sanborn St. Cecilia
March 28 Hartley St. Joseph
April 4 Primghar St. Anthony
Sacred Heart
Stations of the Cross will be held at 5:15 PM on Tuesdays. Father will be in the
confessional during that time. Mass will follow at 5:45 PM. Stations of the Cross
and Mass will be livestreamed at spencersacredheart.com/onlinemass.
March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29 April 5
Choir Dates during Lent
We are a very welcoming group, always looking to add voices. Joining the choir is
easy! All you need to do is show up for rehearsal before Mass and then sit and sing
with us.
(Practice at 9:45 AM in the Fireside Room unless otherwise noted):
March 13
March 27
April 10 (Palm Sunday)
April 14 (Holy Thursday, Practice at 6:45 PM)
April 16 (Holy Saturday, Practice at 6:45 PM)
April 17 (Easter Sunday)Funerals during Holy Week
As per the ancient tradition of the Church, NO funeral Masses are allowed to be
celebrated on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, or Easter Sunday. If the
family would request a service during this time, only the liturgy of the Word and
committal at the cemetery would take place. A memorial Mass could be
celebrated at a later time.
Almsgiving
During the Season of Lent, there are a number of collections which will be taken
up for the needs of the Church throughout the world and in this country. Please
be as generous as you can be with these opportunities for almsgiving.
March 5-6 Aid To Global Churches
April 15 (Good Friday) Holy Land
April 16-17(Easter Sunday) Infirm and Retired Priests of the Diocese
NW Iowa Men’s Welcome Retreat
What: A special opportunity for you to discover what’s missing in your life and
what to do about it. When: March 12-13. Where: St. Joseph, Milford. Who: Men
18+.Why: Because you deserve to live with passion and purpose.
For more information, contact Dcn. Frank Boever at 712-262- 8342; or Bill
Kersting at 712-363-1613.
Men's Lenten Breakfast-St. Joseph O'Brien Co Parish
Begin the day with good food and company! Attend Men's Lenten Breakfast on
Wednesdays at United Church in Primghar from 7:00-7:30 AM. Each week, a church
will take turns cooking & providing a short devotional.
March 9 March 30
March 16 (Hosted by St. Joseph O'Brien Co Men) April 6
March 23 April 13
Lenten Penance Service
There will be a communal Penance Service at Spencer Sacred Heart on
Wednesday, March 23 at 7:00 PM. All are welcome.
USCCB Lent 2022 Resources
Find more information, prayers, and a Lenten calendar that provides daily
inspiration and reflection for your journey.
https://www.usccb.org/prayer-worship/liturgical-year/lentLenten Bible Studies
The Art of Living with Dr. Edward Sri
The Lenten practices of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving are intended to convert our
hearts as we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
In The Art of Living, bestselling author Dr. Sri helps readers discover the close
connection between growing in the virtues of prudence, fortitude, temperance,
and justice and having friendship and community with others.
We will meet in the Spencer Sacred Heart Parish Hall at 7:00 PM.
March 7 March 14 March 21 March 28 April 4
Books are available for $15.
For more information or to register, visit our website at spencersacredheart.com/
adult-faith-formation.
Women's Bible Study – “Above All”
Embrace Lent as a season to change our hearts and prepare the soil of our souls
for the risen Christ! Participants will explore Above All, a Lenten devotional jour-
nal filled with tools to help you discover which areas need care and tending. It will
inspire and motivate you to become your absolute true self, so come Easter, you
can flourish as God intended.
This study is an independent study with a Facebook group for discussion. To
register, contact Megan Wagner at 507-475-1492 or 4unioncatholic@gmail.com
or Mollie Maurer at mmaurer@spencersacredheart.com.
Thirty Steps to Heaven
Explore the Thirty Steps to Heaven and ascend closer to God this Lent! Bible Study
led by St. Joseph parishioner Justin McCarty.
For complete information and to register, contact Megan Wagner at 507-475-
1492 or 4unioncatholic@gmail.com.
The Word Among Us
During the Season of Lent, free copies of “The Word Among Us Lent 2022—
“Remain in Me” will be available to you. These books include complete Catholic
Mass Readings and Daily Meditations. Books are available at Spencer Sacred
Heart, Hartley St. Joseph and Primghar St. Anthony. They are a good source of
meditation and inspiration to help us focus on our Lenten journey.
Wednesday Morning Bible Study
Bible study takes place each Wednesday, beginning at 8:15 AM. We will meet in
the Fireside Room at Spencer Sacred Heart. This would be a good Lenten practice
to study the upcoming Sunday readings.Dynamic Catholic’s Best Lent Ever 2.0
People who have their BEST LENT EVER aren’t just consumers of this content,
they’re disciples of it. God wants to fill your soul, certainly, but he also wants to
work through you to transform the lives of those around you. This Lent, be a
disciple to them. Invite them to explore the life-giving power of generosity. Or to
discover a new or deeper relationship with Jesus. Whichever path will meet them
where they are…be bold…offer them the chance to walk it with you.
This study is free and sign up is easy! Register at
https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/lent/best-lent-ever.html
and enter your name and email address.
FORMED is free to all parishioners of Sacred Heart and St. Joseph O’Brien County.
Sign up for your account at formed.org.
Create a new account
Find your Parish: Search Sacred Heart, Spencer IA or use Parish code RHCC2T
Enter your name and email address and click on sign up. You will be sent an email
to activate your account.
You do not need to create a username or password.
To log back into your account, click on “Sign in” in the upper right hand side.
You will put in your email address and then FORMED sends you an email with a
link. You will need to click on that link and it will take you back into FORMED.
Lenten Reflections with Dr. Tim Gray
As we journey into the desert with Christ for 40 days, make his Word your constant
companion with free Daily Reflections with Dr. Tim Gray. In three-to-five-minute
video reflections, Dr. Gray dives into the Mass readings, opens up the Scriptures,
and provides you with concrete ideas on how to apply them to your daily life.
These reflections are delivered straight to your inbox every morning and are com-
pletely free
Sign up for daily reflections here: https://daily.formed.org/
Triduum: A Spiritual Pilgrimage
This film cinematically walks through the locations of the Holy Week story,
representing the most important days of human history. Immersed in the real and
sacred places of the Holy Land, the pilgrim faithful is brought tangibly nearer to
the story, the landscape, and the reality of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection
of Jesus Christ.
https://watch.formed.org/videos/triduumAnnual 2022 CCCA Online Lent Project
Biola's Center for Christianity, Culture, and the Arts offers a FREE online Lent
Project designed to aid you in pausing each day to reflect on the meaning of the
season. Each day of the Lent Project features a Scripture passage, a devotional
written by a member of the Biola community, a work of fine art, a poem, and a
piece of music.
For more information and to register, visit their website at https://ccca.biola.edu/
events/2022/mar/1/2022-lent-project-devotional/
Eucharistic Adoration at Sacred Heart
Are you looking for a way to make this year’s Lent a truly transforming season? In
past years, perhaps you’ve given up coffee, soda, chocolate, or wine – worthy sacri-
fices for sure. But what if there was something you could actively DO instead? We
recommend adding time in Eucharistic Adoration to your schedule.
What is Adoration? It is a beautiful practice of giving honor and glory to the One
who loves you most. We believe He is present, “body and blood, soul and divinity”
in the most precious Eucharist. While spending time with the exposed Eucharist as
it sits on the altar, you are free to praise, worship, pray, read, sit, kneel, or just be
and gaze at our Lord.
God waits for you, hoping that you will carve out time to be with Him. In the quiet
of the church, you will be surprised at the graces that flow as you invest in this
most important relationship.
Adoration takes place every Thursday, from 8:00 AM to 12 PM in the church. We
have regular “adorers” that cover the hours (for it isn’t right to leave Christ alone),
so feel free to drop by and spend a few minutes, a half hour, an hour or even more.
Most people find it a welcome respite from the noisy world, an opportunity to be
refreshed, and a chance to deepen a friendship that is worth more than all the
treasures of this world.
Wouldn’t that make for an amazing Lenten season?
For more information, visit our website at spencersacredheart.com/adoration
To sign up for a time slot to be on a team, please contact Amy Noah at 712-363-
1973 or Kathy Cunningham at 712 260-3599.What to do in Adoration? Pray the Psalms or the Liturgy of the Hours. Recite the "Jesus Prayer." Say "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner," re- peatedly as you quiet your heart and mind. Meditate using Scripture. Choose a passage from the Bible. Read the words and ask God to let the passage speak to you. Pay special attention to anything that strikes you and ask God what He wishes for you to draw from that message. Read about the life of a saint and pray with him or her. Most holy men and women have had a great devotion to Our Lord in the Eucharist. Pour out your heart to Christ and adore Him. Speak to Jesus, aware that you are in His presence, and tell Him all that comes to your mind. Listen for His response. Ask for forgiveness and intercede for others. Think of those who have hurt you and request a special blessing for them. Ask God to forgive you for all the times you have neglected or hurt someone else. Pray the Rosary. Ask Mary to join you as you gaze on Christ in the Eucharist and as you pray the Rosary. Sit quietly and just "be" in the presence of God. Think of a visit to the Blessed Sacra- ment as coming to see your best friend. Sit quietly and enjoy being in each other's company. Instead of talking to the Lord, try listening to what He wants to tell you. *Excerpts taken from https://www.stmarymokena.org/media/1/29/ AdorationBooklet.pdf A few testimonials about Adoration: “Whenever I go to the chapel, I put myself in the presence of our good Lord, and I say to him, ‘Lord, I am here. Tell me what you would have me to do’ . . . And then, I tell God everything that is in my heart. I tell him about my pains and my joys, and then I listen. If you listen, God will also speak to you, for with the good Lord, you have to both speak and listen. God always speaks to you when you approach him plainly and simply.” – St. Catherine Labouré The time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time that you will spend on earth. Each moment that you spend with Jesus will deepen your union with Him and make your soul everlastingly more glorious and beautiful in heaven, and will help bring about an everlasting peace on earth.” – St.Teresa of Calcutta “Know also that you will probably gain more by praying fifteen minutes before the Blessed Sacrament than by all the other spiritual exercises of the day. True, Our Lord hears our prayers anywhere, for He has made the promise, ‘Ask, and you shall receive,’ but He has revealed to His servants that those who visit Him in the Blessed Sacrament will obtain a more abundant measure of grace.” – St. Alphonsus Liguori
Lent and Holy Week Activities for Catholic Families
· Adapted from reallifeathome.com
Have a pancake dinner the night before Ash Wednesday or make a King Cake. This
day is known as Mardi Gras as well as Shrove Tuesday. Pancakes were a
traditional dish for this day to use up things that weren’t allowed during Lent.
Attend Mass on Ash Wednesday. Wear your ashes out into the world as a
witness of our faith.
Commit to reading the Bible every day together as a family.
Attend the Holy Week Masses and Activities at your Parish.
Make at least one of your meatless Friday meals together as a family. This can be
a great testimonial for younger children as you remember, together, one of the
unique features of our Faith.
Attend Stations of the Cross as a family.
Lenten Family Calendar from Loyola Press
Print a Lenten family calendar and post it in a prominent place in your home to help
you honor the season of Lent. With ideas for practicing the traditional pathways of
prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, your family can take simple steps to a meaningful
Lent.
https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/liturgical-year/lent/activities-and-
resources/lenten-family-calendar/
Lent with Brother Francis on FORMED
Learn and pray with Brother Francis this Lent. With several different seasons
available to watch, Brother Francis will help children learn more about what Lent is
all about and why it is so important.
NEW this year are Daily Meditations with episodes releasing every day.
You can also join Brother Francis in praying a special Stations of the Cross for
children.
https://watch.formed.org/lent-with-brother-francis
40 Simple Lenten Traditions For Families (With Little To
No Prep Work) from Catholic Icing
Observing Lent in your family doesn’t have to be hard or complicated. There are so
many simple things that families can do to make Lent meaningful for the whole family.
https://www.catholicicing.com/simple-lenten-traditions-for-families-with-little-to-no-
prep-work/Lenten Prayer for Sundays during Lent Heavenly Father, As I enter another week of my Lenten journey, guide me to the path that leads to you. Fill my heart with gratitude, patience, strength, and peace as I strive to be- come the-best-version-of-myself, honestly admitting my shortcomings and sins. As I renew my resolve each day to become a better person, let me hear your voice in the deepest reaches of my heart. Give me rest in you. Help me to accept others, showing them your great love instead of casting judgment. Stay with me through the busy days this week and remind me that when I need comfort, solitude, wisdom, or guidance, I can always turn to you. Help me develop discipline and generosity through fasting and almsgiving, and come closer to you through prayer this Lent. In your name I pray, Amen
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