Local Catholics put focus on Lent

A quick click to the archdiocesan calendar reveals a treasury of Lenten resources for #NOLACatholics. From Days of Prayer to directed retreats to simple resources, the Archdiocese of New Orleans wants to help local Catholics make the most of this Holy Season.

Along with listings of the formal offerings from the Archdiocesan Retreat Center and Archdiocesan Spirituality Center open to the public seeking support for their Lenten journey, archdiocesan leadership has curated a list of Lenten Resources, a link to which is featured prominently on the archdiocesan website. According to officials, the page is meant to encourage local Catholics and others to challenge themselves not only with superficial sacrifices but with a commitment to growing in a deeper relationship with Christ.

That sentiment is central to the archdiocese’s ministry this Lent. In his Clarion Herald column leading up to Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lenten season, New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond wrote, “We are asked to observe 40 days of prayer and sacrifice in preparation to celebrate more worthily the Triduum, which is the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the liturgy of Good Friday and the Resurrection of Christ. Lent is a time when we are called to look very honestly at ourselves. In so doing, we ask God to help us to see ourselves as he sees us. First of all, he would remind us of the ways in which we are loved by him and the goodness that exists in our hearts and in our actions. And then, he would compassionately call us to look at our weaknesses and those things which lead us into sin.”

Over the next six weeks, the Archdiocesan Retreat Center (formerly The Cenacle) will offer four separate “Days of Prayer” open to the public and three silent retreats for women. The Archdiocesan Spirituality Center has already begun Lenten programming and will continue to offer prayer opportunities, events and resources through Holy Week. Specifically for men, the 22nd Men’s Morning of Spirituality will be March 18 and feature Judge Jay Zainey and local attorney Ralph Capitelli speaking on the topic of, “As God is My Witness”. The Office of Black Catholic Ministries hosted its annual Sankofa gathering on Saturday helping Black Catholics from across the Gulf South begin their Lenten journeys.

Plus, archdiocesan programming is only a fraction of what is available to local Catholics for Lent. Each of the 110 Catholic Church parishes in the Archdiocese of New Orleans offers some sort of expanded offerings for Lent. This can range from additional Mass times and availability of the Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation) to a Lenten Mission or Revival. (A short list of parish-related activities can be found within the #FridayFishFry listing here.)

For up-to-date information and the latest on Lenten activities for local Catholics, all are encouraged to “like” Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans on Facebook facebook.com/archdioceseofno and “follow” @archdioceseofno on Twitter and Instagram.