It is the Third Sunday of Lent, which means we are at the halfway point of the Lenten season. For me, this is often a time to evaluate how I am doing. Am I fully entering into the season? Am I growing closer in my relationship to God through the sacrifices I’ve chosen to make? Or am I a bit ornery and inconvenienced?
If I’m honest, I’ve usually fallen a bit short. But that’s okay. I try not to get discouraged but remember that the “Lord is kind and merciful” as the cantor reminds us in the psalm this weekend. He is “slow to anger” and “abounding in kindness.” I can begin again and recommit to the Lenten practices that are meant to help me return to the Lord with my whole heart (as we heard in the readings on Ash Wednesday at the beginning of our Lenten journey), not just part of my heart.
There are some great opportunities available right here at The Basilica of Saint Mary that you might consider taking advantage of to enrich your own Lenten journey.
Stations of the Cross: Join us in person or via Livestream on Fridays during Lent at 5:30 p.m. The Stations of the Cross are a beautiful way to meditatively walk with Jesus on his journey to the cross.
Lenten Evening Prayer: Join others in the choir stalls behind the altar at 3:00 p.m. on Sundays in Lent. If you’ve never experienced sung evening prayer, check this out! Part of the Liturgy of the Hours, this is a beautiful, peaceful service that combines music, scripture, and ancient prayers. In particular, it is meant to be a time set aside to give thanks to God for the day.
First Friday Adoration: Following the noon Mass in the Saint Joseph Chapel on the first Friday of the month (April 4 being the next date), spend an hour in adoration. In a chaotic world, spending an hour in the quiet presence of Jesus is often just the thing we need to quiet our hearts and minds. The noon Mass and Adoration are also livestreamed.
Parish Packing Event: Join others from the community in Teresa of Calcutta Hall on Sunday, March 30 to pack kits for Every Meal, a local organization that helps Minnesota kids living in food insecurity. To register for a 45-minute packing shift or to learn more about the project, visit mary.org/event.
Discover a new volunteer ministry: Did you know there are more than 85 different areas in which you can volunteer your time and talents at The Basilica? Truly, the people of this parish are its heart and soul, powering the myriad ministries that make The Basilica a thriving community. Learn more at mary.org/volunteer.
Support our neighbors in need: Through the St. Vincent de Paul ministries, The Basilica community helps families within our parish and the broader community secure basic needs such as food, housing, clothing, and transportation. You can make a gift to help the most vulnerable in our community at mary.org/give. Select St. Vincent de Paul Ministry in the designation field.
As Pope Francis has aptly reminded us during the Jubilee Year, we are all pilgrims on a journey, and he has called us to “journey together in hope.” That is my prayer for you in these remaining weeks of Lent—that you will continue on the journey so that you may experience God’s love for you in a deeper way and thus be able to share God’s love with others.
Leah Santer
Associate Director – Donor Stewardship