Events

Lenten Resources

“Lent is a new beginning, a path leading to the certain goal of Easter, Christ’s victory over death. This season urgently calls us to conversion. Christians are asked to return to God ‘with all their hearts’ (Joel 2:12), to refuse to settle for mediocrity and grow in friendship with the Lord.” – Pope Francis.

Easter Vigil from Holy Name Cathedral

 

Ash Wednesday 2021: Cardinal Blase Cupich Reflects

The Archdiocese of Chicago is delighted to provide Catholics and non-Catholics with a wide variety of opportunities to take Pope Francis’ words to heart and begin a Lenten mission of deepening relationships with those around them and with Jesus Christ.

This year, Lent begins on February 17 and is a time in the Catholic tradition in which we are asked to slow down, reflect and prepare ourselves to receive the incredible gift of Easter morning. We are invited to pray more, deny ourselves by fasting, and give alms to the poor. There are many ways you can live out these practices.

To assist you in your Lenten preparation and practices, here are a few resources we have compiled for your use:

Holy Week Virtual Services

All Services will be livestreamed on our archdiocesan Facebook page and our Catholic Chicago YouTube page.

All these liturgies can be viewed anytime after their original online broadcast.

On Sunday:

  • ABC-7 will televise Easter Mass in English at noon.
  • Univision will televise Easter Mass in Spanish at 10 a.m.
  • Polvision will televise Easter Mass in Polish at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

On Radio:

  • WGN-720 will broadcast the Holy Saturday Easter Vigil from Holy Name Cathedral Saturday at 10 p.m.
  • WGN-720 will broadcast Easter Sunday Mass with Cardinal Blase Cupich on Sunday at 9 a.m.
Focus on the Liturgy

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Timothy Johnston (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) return to a periodic look at a particular part of the Church’s liturgy, discussing the Great Season of Lent. (Video)

Lenten Fast Regulations

Regulations from February 17, 2021 (Ash Wednesday) to the Paschal Triduum (DOC)

FDLC Lenten Liturgy Resource

The annual FDLC liturgy preparation aid for the season of Lent, the Sacred Paschal Triduum and the Easter Season (link)

Please note that this is a national resource, and so some of the suggestions may not align with Guidelines of the Archdiocese of Chicago, which must always be followed (e.g., Communal Reconciliation). It includes pastoral notes about the Sacrament of Penance, an article on the Year of St. Joseph, the Liturgical Calendar for Lent, Triduum and Easter, liturgical preparation sheets and other resources.

Ave Maria Press

They have compiled 40 soup recipes and daily reflections to nourish both your body and soul throughout Lent. You can find the recipes and reflections on their website. (Link)

Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Join the CRS Rice Bowl Movement in 2021! Whether CRS Rice Bowl is a tradition in your community or if you are considering participating for the first time, these tips will help you prepare for a season of encounter:
English Flyer

Best known as Lent for Operation Rice Bowl, a wonderful and easy way to give alms, CRS has many other resources to enable you, your family and community to encounter Lent. You will find daily reflections, stories of hope, recipes, and other resources on their website. (Link)

If you would like to receive daily reflections and recipes on your smart phone or tablet device, download their innovative CRS Rice Bowl app. (Link)

Franciscan Media

Prepare for Easter with Lent activities, readings and reflections updated daily from the Franciscans and St. Anthony Messenger Press. (Link)

Immigration Ministry

Lenten Campaign 2021 (flyer) (link)

National Pastoral Migratoria Lenten Calendar (link)

Kolbe House Jail Ministry

Lenten Programs 2021 (link)

Lentsanity — Fellowship Of Catholic University Students

Lent resources including a mobile app, from Focus.org, an online Catholic college outreach blog.

Liturgical Resources

Sample Communal Reconciliation Service
Resources for a service that could be fashioned such that the individual sacrament of Penance is part of it, or it could be a non-sacramental service that is aimed at preparing a community to receive the Sacrament later. (PDF)

Liturgical Music Resource for the Rites and Rituals
Music Directors and RCIA Directors can use this resource in planning the Rite of Sending to the Cathedral for Election, the Scrutinies for the Elect and the other public rituals that facilitate the process of Initiation. (PDF)

Loyola Press

They provide a number of helpful resources for individuals and parish life. These include video reflections on art, essays, Stations of the Cross, and much more. Click here to discover all of their resources. For options in Spanish click here.

You can also sign-up for a daily reflection to be delivered directly to your email inbox. To subscribe, click here.

Loyola University Chicago

Institute of Pastoral Studies’ Lenten Retreat Series 2021 (link)

Solidarity Bridge

Join the Solidarity Bridge community for their Lenten reflection series: Seeing the Faces that Call us to Justice!

In the words of Pope John Paul II, “perceive in the face of every person a call to encounter, dialogue and solidarity.” This Lent, reflect on what it means to see Christ in the faces of our brothers and sisters in need. Through weekly emails with prayers, links to the readings, and images from Bolivia and Paraguay, readers are invited to deepen their relationship with God and grow in solidarity with others. Sign up to receive weekly messages throughout Lent at www.solidaritybridge.org/lent.

Solidarity Bridge is a lay initiative of the Archdiocese of Chicago responding to the Gospel call to heal the sick. In a spirit of solidarity, we partner with communities in Bolivia and Paraguay to increase access to safe, affordable surgery and other essential healthcare.

Flyer (PDF)

St. Anne Catholic Community Tenebrae

Tenebrae is Latin meaning 'darkness' or 'shadows.' “Tenebrae factae sunt super universam terram,” from the Latin translation of Saint Matthew’s Passion narrative, translates as “Darkness came over the whole earth.” (Matthew 27:45) The darkness is signified by the gradual extinguishing of candles as Christ goes through his passion.

Although its regular use disappeared in 1955 with the revision of Holy Week, Tenebrae was the celebration of the liturgical hours of Matins and Lauds on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.

Reflect and pray on the betrayal, loneliness and suffering that Christ endured on His journey to the cross through scripture, prayer and music as you experience this virtual Tenebrae.

The virtual presentation is available at stannelivestream.com/tenebrae.

Flyer (PDF)

University of Saint Mary of the Lake
Mundelein Seminary

Get reflections written by your future parish priests being formed at Mundelein Seminary. Join us in contemplating Christ’s suffering during this 40-day journey to Easter. Sign up here.

You can also join the Mundelein Seminary community in a 33-day consecration to Saint Joseph. Register online and join a private Facebook group for participants at usml.edu/30-day-consecration-saint-joseph

Mundelein Seminary’s Institute for Pastoral Leadership, offers a Lenten Book Discussion

USCCB

This page includes essays, videos, prayers, and reflections for Lent. (Link)

Simply Catholic

Lenten resources and informational materials for those who want to learn more about Lent. (Link)

Catholic Sprouts

Lenten resources for families and their young children. (Link)

OSV Catholic Bookstore

Lenten book, Finding Christ in the Crisis: What the Pandemic Can Teach Us, that includes a free CD of music with purchase. (Link)

Ignatian Solidarity Network

Sign up for Lenten resources and reflections from the Ignatian Solidarity Network. (Link)

Busted Halo

An interactive digital calendar for each day of Lent. (Link)

Events
 

Lenten Life Groups
Weekly from February 21 through March 28, 2021
Meet via Zoom
Open to all, ages 18-39

The Lenten season is near! It is an essential time of Prayer, Almsgiving, and Fasting. The Young Adult Engagement Team invites you to experience Lent in a Life Group—a faith–based small group that is centered in Christ and in community. Lenten Life Groups will dive into sacred scripture throughout Lent and reflect/pray on the Sunday Gospels. The groups will run weekly for 6 weeks beginning the week of February 21 and ending the week of March 28 (Holy Week). No preparation or faith experience needed, just show up!

To learn more and to register, go to bit.ly/2KfYfA1.

Questions? Email Maria Palafox at [email protected].

Flyer (PDF)

Immigration Ministry
Livestream Rosary

Every Wednesday in Lent at 7 p.m. CST / 8 p.m. EST / 5 p.m. PST
Starting Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17 through Holy Week

All are welcome to join in the 2021 Lenten Campaign for Immigration Reform in Polish, English and Spanish. The campaign provides the opportunity to share one’s faith through prayer, fasting and acts of mercy to raise awareness of the need for immigration reform. Participants sign up to commit to their choice of prayer, fasting and acts of mercy for one or several days.

The result is a 40-day campaign involving hundreds of people of faith and good will to raise awareness and support for the immigrant community while joining ourselves ever deeper to the Paschal mystery of Jesus Christ.

For more information, please click here.

Contact Mauro Pineda at [email protected] or 312.534.8103 with any questions.