Our Lenten Journey 2022 - The Holy Rood Collaborative
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Our Lenten Journey 2022
St. John the Evangelist Church
115 Middlesex Street
North Chelmsford, MA
St. Margaret of Scotland
374 Stevens Street
Lowell, MA
St. Mary Church
25 North Road
Chelmsford, MA
(978) 251-8571 • (978) 454-5143 • (978) 256-2374 • www.theholyrood.org •
Join us on our annual Lenten pilgrimage, beginning Ash Wednesday, March 2
Easter Joy
ending with the Triduum—beginning April 14th—culminating in
on April 17th
The Forty Days of Lent have one overriding purpose: to help the Christian Community prepare itself
to celebrate the Sacred Triduum of Holy Thursday (Mass of the Lord’s
Supper), Good Friday (Celebration of the Passion of Our Lord), Holy Saturday (The Easter Vigil) and Easter
with mind and heart renewed.
Lent reminds us of our Baptism, which is based upon God’s Holy Word, conferred through the gift of divine life.
We are called to commit to live always with repentance and faith as members of God’s Holy People. Although
it necessarily directs attention to our sins and shortcomings, Lent ought to enliven our hope, and help us love God
and neighbor more generously.
These uplifting purposes should govern our approach to all Lenten practices and observances. Penances—
especially the ancient trilogy of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—address interior resistance and external
obstacles to faith and charity, but only in order to bind us more closely to God and neighbor. Liturgical
celebrations ought to promote our hearing of God’s Word, recall key moments in the life and ministry of Jesus,
and energize us to live as befits a people of faith.
In calling us once again to “repent and believe in the Gospel,” Lent also places at our disposal the resources of
the Church and its Tradition. Our Lenten schedule makes some of those resources more readily available. We
hope that it will help each person to find what he or she needs to embrace this season with faith, gratitude, and
Happy Lenten Journey
hope.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Ash Wednesday Masses
Lent—a season of penance, reflection,
and fasting—which prepares us for St. Mary: 7 am and 4 pm
Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption. It
comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The ashes, St. John: 9 and 7 pm
which are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration 12 noon Liturgy of the Word
of the previous year, are made sacramental by the Church, as they are with Distribution of Ashes
christened with Holy Water and scented by exposure to incense. They St. Margaret: 8 am and 6 pm
symbolize the dust from which God made us. They are a symbol of penance. It
is the hope of the Church that they help us to develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice, while also reminding us
that God is gracious and merciful to those who call upon Him with repentant hearts.
To help us pray during this Lenten
Little Black Books Season. Available at the church entrances Eucharistic Adoration
Consider making a Holy Hour this year!
Lenten Confession Schedule If this is something you don’t usually
find the time for, it’s a great way to
The Light is on For You: Wednesday Evenings draw near to Jesus during these forty
6:30 - 8:00 pm at all three churches days. Our lives are so busy that it’s
March 9, 16 23, 30/April 6, 13 sometimes difficult to slow down and
find time for prayer. It’s nice to just be
Our regular confession schedule will continue throughout in His presence and be still; it’s a
Lent with the exception of Wednesday, St Mary retreat… from the world. Keep in
Confessions being CANCELLED due to The Light Is On For You. mind… Holy Hours aren’t just for Lent!
Saturday Confessions will be cancelled on Holy Saturday, April 16
St Mary
Parish Center Adoration Chapel
Stations of the Cross Thursdays • 3:00 - 9:00 pm
This popular Lenten devotion will be offered St Margaret
on a rotating basis at our parishes every Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel
Friday of Lent. Unfortunately, the Soup
Wednesdays • 9 am - 3 pm
portion of this event is suspended this year
due to the continuing pandemic situation. St John
Old Parish Center Adoration Chapel
Stations will begin St. John March 4 and 25 First Friday Adoration
at 7 pm according St. Margaret March 11 and April 1 Friday, March 4 • 3 - 9 pm
to the following First Friday Adoration
schedule: St. Mary March 18 and April 8 Friday, April 1 • 3 - 9 pm
Abstinence: Catholics over 14 years of age are bound to the
Abstinence and Fasting obligations of abstinence. Abstinence (no meat) is to be
observed on Ash Wednesday, Fridays of Lent and Good Friday.
Fasting: Catholics over the age of 18 and up to the beginning of their 60th year are bound to the obligation of
fasting. Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays of Lent, are defined as the days of fasting. On these
days, only 1 full meatless meal is allowed. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be
taken according to each one’s needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between
meals is not permitted; but liquids, including milk and fruit juices, are allowed.
The Sacred Paschal Fast: The Paschal Fast should also be kept sacred. It is to be celebrated everywhere on the
Friday of the Lord’s Passion and, where appropriate, prolonged also through Holy Saturday as a way of
coming, with spirit uplifted, to the joys of the Lord’s Resurrection.
Lenten Events/ Presentations Clip-Out Calendar
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Mondays at St. John • 4:30 - 5:30 pm
“Need Title of Fr. Brian Presentation” Tuesdays at St. Mary • 4:30 - 5:30 pm
presented by Fr. Brian Wednesdays at all churches • 6:30 - 8 pm
Mondays March 21, 28 and April 4 • 7 pm • St. Mary Church Saturdays at St. Mary • 11 am - 12 noon
Available to watch in-person or via LIVEVIEW Saturdays at St. Margaret • 1 - 2 pm
Saturdays at St. John • 3 - 3:45 pm
“Need Title of Fr. Fraini Presentation” Stations of the Cross at 7 pm
Our Collaborative Retreat: presented by Fr. Fred Fraini, III St John • March 4, 25
St. Margaret • March 11, April 1
Sunday, March 6 - Wednesday, March 8 St. Mary • March 18, April 8
7 p • St. John the Evangelist Church
Available to watch in-person or via LIVEVIEW Eucharistic Adoration
Wednesdays • 9am - 3pm
St. Margaret Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel
“Lenten Scripture and Song” Thursdays • 12 - 9 pm
7 pm • Tuesday, March 29 • St. John the Evangelist Church St. Mary Parish Center Adoration Chapel
7 pm • Tuesday, April 5th • St. Mary Church First Fridays • 3 - 9 pm
Friday, March 4 • St John Adoration Chapel
Available to watch in-person or via LIVEVIEW Friday, April 1 • St John Adoration Chapel
“Palm Sunday Cantata” Lenten Prayer Services
Sunday, April 10 Scripture and Song:
St. John • March 29 • 7 pm
2 - 3 pm • St. Margaret of Scotland Church St. Mary • April 5 • 7 pm
Cantata • St. Margaret • April 10 at 2 pm
“Tenebrae Service” Tenebrae • St. Mary • April 13 at 7 pm
7 pm • Wednesday, April 13 • St. Mary Church Lenten Speaker Presentations
Available to watch in-person or via LIVEVIEW
“Lenten Retreat”
Sunday, March 6 - Tuesday, March 8
7 pm at St. John Church
A Journey to Holiness “Fr Brian Presentation”
Mondays: March 21, 28 and April 4
7 pm at St. Mary Church
“Go and learn the meaning of the words:
It is mercy I desire, not sacrifice.” Sacred Triduum Schedule
-Matthew 9:13 Holy Thursday • April 14 • St. John
9 am Morning Prayer
The first question we often ask is 7 pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper
“What should I give up for Lent?” or
“What is missing from my life?” The Good Friday • April 15 • St. Mary
first goal of Lent is holiness and the 9 am Morning Prayer
3 pm Teen-Led Stations of the Cross
meaning of holiness is ‘wholeness’. 7 pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Such holiness is measured, not by the scale of deprivation, but Holy Saturday • April 16 • St. Margaret
by the fullness of our ‘life in Christ’. Lent is a time to seek the 9 am Morning Prayer
8:30 pm The Great Easter Vigil
real gifts we lack: patience, joy, trust and compassion. True
blessedness does not arrive by denying our craving for Easter Sunday • April 17
chocolate, but by fulfilling our hunger for righteousness. 9:30 am and 6 pm Masses at St. John
Amen! 7 and 11 am Masses at St. Mary
8 and 10 am Masses at St. Margaret
Daily Masses will not be celebrated during Your and your family and friends are invited to
the Triduum. spend your Lenten Journey with us. Let us walk
Triduum
Saturday alongside you as we all, together, make the
Confessions conscious effort to grow closer to our Lord,
will be cancelled. preparing ourselves for His glorious resurrection
on Easter Sunday!
From the first day of Lent, the Ash Wednesday
Holy Thursday, April 14 readings make God's call to us clear: “Return to
St. John me with your whole heart.” We pause and reflect,
Morning Prayer ● 9 am then often walk away and pay heed to the
Mass of the Lord’s Supper ● 7 pm distractions and numerous chores that never run
out. “Return to me with your whole heart,” He calls
out to us again. And again. How will we answer?
Good Friday, April 15
St. Mary It’s easy to hide from God, or so we kid
ourselves. God is NEVER more than a prayer, a
Morning Prayer ● 9 am tear, a cry for help, away. He never leaves our
● side. He patiently waits for us to “return to Him
Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ ● 7 pm with our whole hearts.” And He gives us the
beautiful season of Lent to help us make this jour-
Holy Saturday, April 16 ney a little more purposefully.
St. Margaret Here at The Holy Rood Collaborative, we have
Morning Prayer ● 9 am numerous events scheduled, in hopes to inspire
The Great Easter Vigil ● 8:30 pm you to say NO to the distractions and
“busy”-ness of our everyday lives, and quiet
down long enough to say YES to our Lord… He
Easter Sunday, April 17 who loves you with an everlasting love, and
St. John ● 9:30 am and 6 pm wishes to shower grace upon grace, and mercy
St. Margaret ● 7:30 and 10 am upon mercy, on YOU!
St. Mary ● 7 and 11 am “Return to me with your whole heart!”
Triduum Means Three Days God gathers us together to remember the events that
constitute the Paschal Mystery of Our Savior Jesus Christ.
We who are Christian, remember that in Baptism we entered into the paschal mystery: we died to sin and rose to
new life with Christ. We who are preparing for baptism, enter these days surrounded by signs and symbols that will
plunge us into the Paschal Mystery.
As we begin this Sacred Triduum, we carry the Holy Oils blessed by Cardinal Seán O’Malley at this week’s Chrism
Mass. Oil of the Catechumens, Oil of the Sick, and Sacred Chrism are solemnly processed. These oils will be used
throughout the year to anoint the sick, those preparing for Baptism, the newly baptized, and those being confirmed.
We also bring food for the hungry in our Altar preparation of the Gifts.
The three days, Triduum, are actually one liturgy or celebration. We begin with the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
on Holy Thursday, leading to the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday. On Holy Saturday, we celebrate
the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night which begins in darkness. We kindle a new fire, in anticipation that we will be
inflamed with new hope. Christ our Light is proclaimed, and, as the Easter light spreads throughout the assembly, we
marvel at the power of the Resurrection of Christ.
We then attune our ears to the power of God’s Word. We hear the central stories of What is the
salvation that lead us to embrace the story of Christ’s triumph over death. “He is not here. He Paschal Mystery?
is risen!”
This is the night when, having shared in the Paschal Mystery once again, we renew our
commitment to go forth in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluias are on our lips, with the
fragrance of chrism filling our heads, with fresh baptismal waters covering us, with the taste
of the Body and Blood of Christ on our tongues, we go forth renewed in spirit to bring the
message of the risen Savior to a world hungry for salvation.
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