— March 14 , 2022
Be There - Join the saints this Lent on the road to the Cross.
Join in our parish’s Lenten Study. Deepen your relationship with Jesus through Scripture, meditation, and reflection questions. Watch weekly videos by different diocesan priests. People can participate individually, as spouses, as a family, with friends, or with the parish group. Materials are located in the Narthex. Books will be arriving soon.
Lenten Study Parish Group
Josh Burks, a parishioner and instructor at Emmaus Institute, will be leading a parish group available to anyone interested. The group will meet Thursdays at 9:00 am in the Heritage Room throughout Lent. The first meeting will be 3/3 and the last meeting will be 4/7.
To register, click on the image below or contact stjoelent@gmail.com.
Group leaders, download the leader guide HERE.
Participants can download the instruction sheet HERE.
A copy of the guide is available below. Please do not reproduce without permission. Email stjoelent@gmail.com with inquiries.
Introduction to the Study
Sara Racicot, Author
Tips on Prayer
Matt Simmons
Week 1
Fr. Andrew Schwenka
Week 2
Bishop John Folda
Week 3
Fr. Chris Goodwin
Week 4
Fr. Allan Phan
Week 5
Fr. Stephen Graeve
Week 6
Fr. Ben Holdren
Spy Wednesday: Jesus forgives Dismas
I hung from a cross, facing my death. Pain consumed my body and I grew tired of the struggle to live. Then, I heard Him speak. “Forgive them, Father, they know not what they do.” Memories raced through my mind, memories of selfishness, violence, and greed. For so long, I felt like the world, like other people, owed me some kind of easy life. The bitterness drove me to take what I thought I deserved. I began following a group that felt the same. My life was one of destruction and anger.
Nothing could be as great a contrast to me than the man dying on the cross next to me. I had heard much about Jesus in the last year: His healing power, His acceptance of anyone into His followers. His body had been whipped and beaten far more than mine. He was bloodied and bruised all over. And yet, He had suffered silently and so willingly.
I heard His words again in my heart. Forgive them, Father. This was someone worth following. Instead of taking, He gives. Instead of hating, He loves. In His dying moment, He forgives. In my last moments, I could make a different choice. I could follow Him. I knew that I was most unworthy of forgiveness, a second chance right before I died. But, He offered it and I needed it. I filled my lungs and called out to Him. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
He turned His head slowly and gasped for air. In choppy, breathless words, He spoke to me. “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Download
Copy of Be There Lenten Guide2
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