Sign up for Hallow to be part of Lent Pray40 -The Way. Visit our Hallow webpage to find out how.
The Rice Bowl boxes from Catholic Relief Services are available in the Gathering Space. This is a way to make a small sacrifice during lent and to help people who are struggling with lack of food. 25% of the money collected remains in our diocese to help with food pantries and other local providers throughout the Diocese.
Reconciliation/Confession
Lent is a great opportunity to reconcile with yourself and God!
Saturday Confession times during Lent: 2:30 to 3:30 PM: March 8, 15, & 22 (1 Confessor) 2:30 - 4:00 PM: March 29, April 5 & April 12 (3 - 4 Confessors on these days)
PLEASE NOTE: There will be no confessions on April 19, Holy Saturday.
Stations of the Cross will be held each Wednesday during Lent (not including Ash Wednesday) at 12:10 PM in the church. Stations of the Cross (English)*
Stations of the Cross will be held each Friday during Lent at 7PM in the church Stations of the Cross (English)*
Events following Stations of the Cross (8:00 - 9:30PM): 3/28: Jesus Thirsts movie to be shown in HSH. 4/11: Jesus Thirsts movie to be shown in HSH.
NOTE: There will be no First Friday Holy Hour on March 7 or April 4, 2025
Practice for the Living Stations on Good Friday follow the 7PM Stations: Contact [email protected] if interested in being a part of this awesome event.
Good Friday
April 18 at 1:00PM: Living Stations of the Cross
April 18 at 7:00PM: Stations of the Cross Through the Eyes of Mary
OCIA - Order of Christian Initiation for Adults
This is the program that the Church offers to those adults who need to receive one or more of the Sacraments of Christian Initiation (e.g. Baptism, Communion, Confirmation). We also have a program for children which is OCIA Adapted for Children.
Please pray for our candidatesand catechumenpreparing to receive Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil this year. We also two confirmands preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
The Rite of Acceptance is scheduled for Sunday, February 23, at the 9:00 am Mass. We have two candidates and one catechumen who will take part as members of the Adult OCIA. There will also be six candidates from the Monday evening Children’s OCIA present for this Rite.
On the First Sunday of Lent, March 9, at the 9:00 am Mass, we will have the Rite of Sending for our catechumen. She will then take part in the Rite of Election at the Cathedral in Metuchen, after which time she will be an Elect.
The Scrutiniesare Rites celebrated on the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent. They will take place at the 9AM Mass on March 23, March 30 and April 6.
The Scrutinies are a series of Catholic rites that take place on the third, fourth, and fifth Sundays of Lent. They are a time of self-examination and repentance for those preparing for baptism.
Purpose
To help the Elect (those preparing for baptism) turn away from sin and embrace Christ
To strengthen the Elect's resolve to love God
To protect the Elect from temptation
To give the Elect strength in Christ
How it works
The Elect and their sponsors kneel before the assembly
The assembly prays silently for the Elect
There is a prayer of exorcism, which is intended to help purify the Elect from sin
The Elect receive the laying-on-of-hands
Connection to the Gospels
The Scrutinies are associated with specific Gospel stories that are read on the three Sundays of Lent
The Gospels teach the Elect about sin and fill them with the Spirit of Christ
Who participates
The Scrutinies are for adults and children who are preparing for baptism through the OCIA program.
The Rite of Acceptance begins the Period of the Catechumenate
During this period the catechumens receive catechetical, ascetically and liturgical training. catechetical instruction is of the utmost importance; “This catechesis leads the catechumens not only to an appropriate acquaintance with dogmas and precepts but also to a profound sense of the mystery of salvation in which they desire to participate” (OCIA, No. 75). During this time, the catechumens should undergo a conversion of mind and action, becoming acquainted with the teachings of the faith and acquiring a spirit of charity. The sponsors and parish community assist the catechumens by their example and support. At Sunday Mass, the catechumens receive special exorcisms, blessings and anointings following the homily; however, after the Liturgy of the Word, they leave the Church. The Catechumenate may extend over a prolonged period of time, even years if necessary.
The Rite of Sending
This rite is a ceremony in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) that prepares catechumens for the Rite of Election. The Rite of Sending takes place in the parish, while the Rite of Election takes place at the cathedral. The rite serves as a bridge between the catechumenate journey within the parish and the formal diocesan Rite of Election.
The Rite of Election closes the Period of the Catechumenate.
This rite normally coincides with the first Sunday of Lent. At this rite, upon the testimony of sponsors and catechists and the catechumens’ affirmation of their intention to join the Church, the Church makes its “election” of these catechumens to receive the Sacraments of Initiation. In the presence of the bishop (or his delegate), they inscribe their names in the Book of the Elect at the cathedral as a pledge of fidelity. Now the catechumens are called “the elect’ or “the illuminandi” (“those who will be enlightened”). They now begin a Period of Purification and Enlightenment — the final, intense preparation for the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation.
What is a Candidate?
Someone who has only received the Sacrament of Baptism, either Catholic or in another Christian Faith. One who as yet, has not recieved the Sacraments of Confirmation or Eucharist, who is uncatechized. This person becomes a Candidate when they express a desire receive all the Sacraments of Initiation and come into full union with the Catholic Church. These adults will be prepared to celebrate the sacraments of Penance, Confirmation and Eucharist.
What is a Catechumen?
Someone who is unbaptized and desires to become Catholic. They must first go through inquiries about the faith and receive evangelization. This is a precatechumenate step. Once they have a developed a profound desire to publicly declare their intention to enter the Church, they will go through the Rite of Acceptance and become a Catechumen.
What is a Confirmand?
Someone who has received the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, but was not Confirmed, and now desires to receive that Sacrament.
What is an Elect?
Once a Catechumen goes through the Rite of Election they become an Elect. They now begin a Period of Purification and Enlightenment — the final, intense preparation for the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.
What is a Neophyte?
After the Easter Vigil, the newly baptized and confirmed members of the Church are technically called neophytes. They now enter the Period of Postbaptismal Catechesis or Mystagogy. The neophytes grow in their understanding of the mysteries of the faith and strengthen their bonding with the rest of the faithful. They should enter more fully into the life and unity of the Church. This period normally ends around Pentecost.