Lenten Season 2024
How might you participate to turn to God during this Lenten season? COTM is offering many opportunities to help you pivot to God. May these events and the 40-day journey bring us closer to Jesus.
ASH WEDNESDAY, February 14th: Ashes will be distributed at the following Masses: 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Ashes will also be distributed during the 4:00 p.m. Liturgy of the Word Service. Ash Wednesday is a day that offers a valuable opportunity to set a tone for the entire season of Lent.
LENTEN WEEKDAY MASS SCHEDULE: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS: will be held on Friday evenings beginning at 7:00 p.m. on February 16 and 23, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29. The Stations of the Cross with a brief Scripture Reflection. Stations will be geared toward the Teens of the parish on March 8 and 22.
LENTEN COMPANIONS/PROGRAMS:
~Copies of the Word Among Us: Praying with Jesus are available in the back of the church. This companion includes the Catholic Mass Readings and Daily Meditations.
~The Women of the Magdalene are offering two new approaches to Bible Study: The first is a program based on Women in the Old Testament, a book by Irene Nowell. As we read the stories of these Biblical women, we will be guided by Sister Claudette LaVerdiere, MM, who will share her expertise in person. We begin February 12th, and will meet every other Monday at 1:00 p.m. in Weaver Hall. Four sessions are currently planned, February 12th and 26th, and March 11th and 21st. Please contact Sharon Lavery at sglavery@verizon.net to sign up or to get more information.
The second program is based on Little Rock’s Scripture Study, Women in the New Testament, and will meet every Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m., beginning February 15th through March 21st in the Weaver Parish Hall. The program follows short readings with questions for meditation and discussion. Please contact Tere Casey at terepettitt@aol.com or Anne Kenny at amobk@optonline.net to sign up or for more information. Both books are available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or Liturgical Press.
~Have you started watching The Chosen yet? If not, why not make it a Lenten resolution? The Chosen is a multi-season show about Jesus and those He has “chosen” to be His followers. It is available through their own app as well as on many streaming services. You can also watch it on YouTube. Just google “The Chosen” and you will find it.
RECONCILIATION: In addition to our regular schedule, we will join the Archdiocesan-wide celebration of the Sacrament by offering Confessions on Monday, March 25 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm and 6:00 -9:00 pm in conjunction with the dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Center.
MASS OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK: Saturday, March 9 at 12:00 noon.
TENEBRAE/MORNING PRAYER: will be held during the Sacred Triduum of Holy Week, March 28-30, the solemn days of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. You are invited to participate in the Office of Readings, Psalms and the Lamentations of Jeremiah at 9:00 a.m.
LENTEN SOUP SUPPER: Friday, March 22 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the Weaver Parish Hall. The menu will consist of Vegetable and Lentil soups and New England clam chowder, (pizza for children) rolls and butter, and water. This humble meal helps us to focus our attention on the purpose of fasting. The cost per person is $10 for adults and $7 for children. The proceeds will benefit our Lenten Charity: The Life Center. The Life Center responds to the needs of women and children living in Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown communities .
PARISH ALMSGIVING PROGRAM: Through your monetary gift to the Life Center, you will be helping to provide services to children and families in our community. Mite boxes will be distributed to ALL children in our Religious Education Program and extras can be found in the back of the church. Also, the poor box will remain in the center aisle until Easter Sunday to receive your alms.
REGULATIONS FOR LENT: Fasting prescribes that only one full meal a day be eaten. Two smaller meals may be taken to maintain strength but the two taken together should not equal another full meal. Fasting obligates us from the 18th to the 59th birthday. Abstinence does not allow the eating of meat. Abstinence obligates us from the 14th birthday on. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. All Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence. Those who work or whose health would be impaired may be excused from fasting and abstinence. Individual conscience should decide a proper cause for excuse.