Looking for Lenten retreats and events? Here’s a sampling of local events
Along with fasting, and almsgiving, prayer is one of the three pillars of Lent.
Lent is also a time for personal reflection. There are many local opportunities for the faithful to gather for reflection and prayer throughout the Archdiocese. Some religious institutions also offer virtual retreats and events to make Lenten prayer even more convenient.
A healing retreat
The Catholic Women of Zion Chapter 3 will hold a retreat on March 9. The day will consist of Mass, music, guest speaker, sharing, networking, and prayers for healing.
The guest speaker is Sister Patricia Wormann O.P. who will share: “We are all broken. That’s how the light gets in.” Sister Wormann is a Dominican Sister of Caldwell, N.J. She currently serves as the Delegate for Religious for the Archdiocese of Newark. In this role, she is the liaison between Cardinal Joseph Tobin and the communities of Religious men and women within the Archdiocese. Sister Wormann holds a B.A. from Fordham University, a master’s in social work from Rutgers University, and a Master of Divinity from Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington.
The day starts at 9 a.m. at St. Andrew Church in Westwood. Admission is $25, includes a boxed lunch, and may be paid at the door. Reservations are required by calling 201-370-2577.
A deeper connection to God
Are you seeking to connect more deeply with God this Lent? St. Bartholomew in Scotch Plains presents “In His Presence” on Mondays from 7:30-8:30 p.m. beginning Feb. 19. This Lenten Parish Mission event will seek to understand God’s presence throughout life’s journey. Each night will consist of God’s Word, an inspiring talk by a new guest speaker, and time in the Real Presence of God in the Eucharist.
The schedule is as follows:
Feb. 19: Vulnerability – Father Mariusz Koch, CFR
Feb. 26: Change – Sister Percylee Hart, RSM
March 4: Priorities – Dennis Corcoran
March 11: Longing – Father Andy Prachar
March 18: Sacrifice – Father Matt Gonzalez
Faith Quest
Faith Quest is an opportunity for each of us to deepen and enrich our faith as we prepare for Easter. There will be different speakers hosted by Notre Dame Church in North Caldwell for a series of four talks on Wednesday evenings Feb. 28 -March 20. The series takes place 7:30-9 p.m. and can be attended in-person or virtually.
Feb. 28: Dennis Corcoran, of St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Florida, will present “Deal With It! Why Should I Forgive?” We shouldn’t let people walk all over us and we should hold them accountable. While this might be true, Jesus offers a larger vision with which to consider the concept of forgiveness.
March 6: The Power of A Meal: Ritual Dining from the Bible
Father Thomas Dente, Notre Dame pastor, and Rabbi Ari Lucas, rabbi at Congregation Agudath Israel, will present a discussion on meals in the Bible with the two most notable meals in the Bible being given by Moses and Jesus.
March 13: Letting God Work Wonders Within YOU!
Monastic life is structured to allow contemplatives to be fully open to God’s will. This openness is not just for those in monasteries but includes all believers. We’ll explore the vocation of a cloistered
contemplative with Sister Marie Paul, O.P., a cloistered, contemplative nun, and discuss how openness to God’s magnificent work can be brought about in everyone’s life even outside of an enclosure.
March 20: Our Three-Day Walk: Prospective for Living Differently
As we prepare to enter Holy Week, it is essential for us, as disciples of Christ, to reflect
on ways we can live differently by walking through the Sacred Paschal Triduum. Bishop Michael Saporito, D.D. will present this discussion.
To register click here.
Lent with the saints
During Lent, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Oratory in Montclair will host a veneration and exposition of over 100 relics of saints, the Holy Cross, and the Holy Family on Feb. 24.
Joseph Santoro, a knight with the Order of the International Crusade for Holy Relics (ICHR), is hosting the exhibition. The order is an international group of independent relic apostolates, advocates, and saint devotees. The knights, who are highly educated in relic authenticity, have vowed to rescue and protect Holy Relics from profanation and neglect.
The faithful will get to venerate 100 relics of Santoro’s relics as they are exposed for the first time at the OLMC oratory. Santoro said there will be three sections of relics: The Passion and the Holy Family, the Nativity of Our Lord, and Saints and Blesseds. All are welcome. The exposition will take place from 12-7 p.m.
Lenton Night with Catholic Rapper
St. Aloysius Parish in Caldwell presents a night with Catholic rapper Communion on Monday, Feb. 26, in English and Tuesday, Feb 27, in Spanish.
The evening will include testimony, adoration, and Catholic Hip Hop. Both sessions begin at 7 p.m.
Lenten Eucharistic Revival Conference
St. Aloysius Church in Jersey City and the Filipino Apostolate will host a Lenten Eucharistic Revival Conference on March 16, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Speakers include Most Rev. John W. Flesey, D.D., who will discuss Truth, Goodness, and Beauty of the Eucharist; Bishop Michael Saporito, D.D., who will discuss Eucharist: The Lord’s Abiding Presence; Bishop Gregory Studerus, D.D., Homily theme: Becoming Eucharistic People; and Father John Gordon, who will discuss Joining in the Sacrifice: The Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Conference includes Eucharistic Adoration with praise and worship.
Please bring a packed lunch. There is a $10 participation fee payable to the Filipino Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Newark. For more information call 973-489-1047.
Learn to meditate
Join Community of God’s Love in Rutherford for a Lenten reflection — “Sensing God: Learning to Meditate During Lent” by Laurence Freeman, O.S.B.
The book has introductory material on learning the method of Christian Meditation taught by John Main, O.S.B., and daily Gospel readings followed by a reflection. There will be 2 sessions each week — in person or on Zoom Thursdays Feb. 15-April 4. Zoom will take place 3:30-4:30 p.m. In-person will be held 7:30-8:30 p.m. at the Community of God’s Love. Participants can order the book on Amazon. To register and for information, email Ellen Roller at roller81@hotmail.com.
Movies for the faithful
Caldwell University is inviting the community to a free screening of the film “Trinity’s Triumph” on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. followed by a Q&A session with producer and writer of the film Father Stephen Fichter.
Emmy and SAG award-winning actor Joe Morton is Monsignor Heck in “Trinity’s Triumph.” It is a story of three young men who enter the seminary guided by their wise and lovable mentor Heck. What starts as a single mission for all three men, becomes divided, and they each find that they must decide what God is asking of them. Several scenes in the movie were filmed on Caldwell’s campus.
Father Fichter, pastor at Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Church in Wyckoff and the Episcopal Vicar of Education for the Archdiocese of Newark, said “Trinity’s Triumph is a modern, behind-the-scenes look at life in the priesthood.
The Italian Apostolate of Newark will host a private movie premiere of “Cabrini”, on Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m. at Hawthorne Theaters in Hawthorne. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at https://cabrini.ticketleap.com.
Daily meditations to your inbox
As the Lenten season approaches, Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology (ICSST) of Seton Hall University invites the faithful to join in its annual tradition of daily meditations delivered by email, this year inspired by Psalm 27:8, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
Day by day, the series will offer meditations and prayers to help participants enter more deeply into the Lenten season. Reflections will focus on the gaze of Christ in powerful ways, contemplating how He beckons us to draw close and experience His great love.
Authored by Monsignor Gerard McCarren, S.T.D., rector/dean, Monsignor Joseph Reilly, S.T.L., Ph.D., vice provost for Academics and Catholic Identity, and Dianne Traflet, J.D., S.T.D., associate dean for Graduate Studies and Administration and assistant professor of Pastoral Theology, meditations will be sent starting on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, and continue through Holy Thursday, March 28.
Journey with the Holy Family
Immaculate Conception Church in Montclair in partnership with Immaculate Conception Seminary will present a Lenten Exodus: Journeying to the Promised and with Father Chris Ciccarino.
The “journey” will take place on Thursdays at 7 p.m. Feb. 15 through March 21 and will cover the Exodus to Egypt, living in Egypt, leaving Egypt, covenants old and new, and living after Mount Sinai. For more information visit www.iccmontclair.org.
Walking the Lenten Road Together
The Benedictine Sisters at St. Walburga Monastery in Elizabeth is offering a virtual retreat throughout Lent: Walking the Lenten Road Together on Thursday evenings beginning Feb. 15 through March 14, 7:30 – 9 p.m. The spirituality of Lent is rich in traditions, practices, and prayer. Imaginations will be captured, and spirits stirred as attendees consider the Scriptures, rituals, devotions, and traditions inspired by this season. The cost is $10 per session. Register for retreats by visiting bensisnj.org.
A Monastic Easter
Deepen participation in the Christian mystery of death and resurrection in the quiet of the Benedictine Sisters at St. Walburga Monastery in Elizabeth during Easter weekend, March 28 – 31. Attendees will enjoy simple but moving liturgies, and the fellowship of other retreatants. The retreat begins at 4 p.m. on Holy Thursday and concludes at 1:15 p.m. on Easter Sunday. Register for retreats by visiting bensisnj.org.
Sitting with the seven last words of Jesus
On this day before the Easter Triduum begins, the Benedictine Sisters at St. Walburga Monastery in Elizabeth will immerse attendees in the seven Words of the Crucified Jesus, as he offers the ultimate gift of His life to His Father. Discover your own resonance with these poignant sayings as you make them your prayer. The retreat takes place at the monastery Wednesday, March 27, 9:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Register for retreats by visiting bensisnj.org.
Attend a Cursillo Ultreya event
Holy Family Parish in Nutley will hold a Cursillo Ultreya weekend on Feb. 22-25 for women. The Cursillo Movement is a lay movement within the Catholic Church that shares the fundamentals of being a Christian as both an individual and in unity.
Cursillo helps people discover and fulfill their personal vocations while promoting groups of Christians who inspire their environments with the Gospel. The purpose of Cursillo is to build Christian Communities in neighborhoods, parishes, workplaces, and other environments in which people live the greatest parts of their lives. It provides a means by which men and women can live the Gospel daily and is an encounter with Christ. It is a weekend course in Christianity for men or women, followed by a sustained local community to help nourish your spiritual growth for a lifetime. For more information call 201-753-8304.
Visit Jersey Catholic’s events calendar to see more events or to post your event.
