St. Joseph the Worker

Lenten Activities at St. Joseph the Worker

The 2025 Lenten season begins on Ash Wednesday, March 5.  Below are some activities that we offer at St. Joseph the Worker to help you prepare during Lent.

• Ash Wednesday Mass with Distribution of Ashes:  March 5, 20250at 8:30am and 5:30pm
• Little Black Book:  To assist in your preparation during Lent, the Little Black Books will be handed out.  The daily meditations contained within these booklets will help[ you live out the Lenten season.
• Private Celebration of Reconciliation:  Saturdays from 3:15 - 4:00pm.  Fr. Joe has also added these extra times: March 10^th, March 17^th, March 24^th, March 31^st, April 7^th and April 14^th, from  5:00pm-5:30pm.  Fr. Joe can also meet with you by appointment.  Please call the Church office 217-483-3772.
• Weekday Mass:  Join us in the Church on Monday at 6:00pm for Mass followed by Stations of the Cross and on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 8:30am for Mass.
• Evening Prayer and Stations:  There will be Evening Prayer on Fridays at 5:00pm followed by Stations of the Cross, except for March 21^st when our youth will present Living Stations at 7:00pm
• Living Stations:  Friday, March 21^st - 7:00pmThe public and parish are invited to come witness, remember and reflect on the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ as our youth bring to life a contemporary version of the Stations of the Cross.  
• Adult Education session on Thursdays:  On Thursday, March 6^th, March 13^th, March 20^th, March 27^th, April 3^rd and April 10^th, Fr. Joe will be offering sessions on the Seven Sacraments, from 5:30-6:30pm.
• Adoration of the Eucharist: There will be Eucharistic Adoration in the Church on Friday, March 7^th and on Friday, April 4^th  from 7:15am-8:15am and from 9:15am-11:30am, ending with Benediction.
• Private Devotions and Prayer:  The Church is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:00pm (enter through the office doors).
  

April 17- Holy Thursday ~ Mass at 6:30pm

April 18 - Good Friday ~ Liturgy at 3:00pm

April 19- Easter Vigil ~ Mass at 7:00pm

April 20 - Easter Sunday ~ Masses at 8:00am and 10:30am

Lenten Activities outside of our parish:

From the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

During Lent, we are asked to devote ourselves to seeking the Lord in prayer and reading Scripture, to service by giving alms, and to practice self-control through fasting. Many know of the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, but we are also called to practice self-discipline and fast in other ways throughout the season. Contemplate the meaning and origins of the Lenten fasting tradition in this reflection. In addition, the giving of alms is one way to share God's gifts—not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time and talents. As St. John Chrysostom reminds us: "Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2446).

To read more check out their website HERE.

Lenten Prayers & Devotions:

• Begin each morning with the prayer: "Lord, I offer you this day, and all that I think, and do, and say."
• Attend Daily Mass as often as possible.
• Pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.
• Make the Stations of the Cross at home or in a parish celebration.
• Read Scripture for 10 minutes every day.
• Pray the Seven Penitential Psalms (Psalm 6, 31, 50, 101, 129 and 142).
• Spend some time in quiet prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
• Abstain from meat for an extra day or two each week.
• Listen to spiritual music or a spiritual speaker.
• Keep a Lenten journal with your spiritual insights, special intentions, people you want to pray for, hurts and disappointments that you want to offer up, and progress reports on your Lenten resolutions.

Apps & Podcasts – Prayer and Faith Inspiration at Your Fingertips    

Many Catholic podcasts and apps are readily available to grow and strengthen your faith life.  In addition to weekly or daily Mass attendance these online podcasts and program offerings can provide a great way to make prayer a daily habit and keep “The Word” at the forefront of your life.  Here are just a few of the offerings.   

Hallow App - Hallow is the #1 Catholic prayer and meditation platform in the world and is home to the largest digital community of Catholics online.  Hallow helps users deepen their relationship with God through contemplative prayer and easy-to-use guided audio sessions ranging between 60 seconds and 60 minutes in length, placing over 2000 years of Catholic tradition at your fingertips.

Ascension Presents - The faith formation leader offers a variety of podcasts from Catholic speakers and leaders.  Ministering for the past 25 years, Ascension is aimed to help Catholics have an encounter with the living God.  Ascension offers inspirational programs and speakers designed just for you.  They offer Bible studies, sacramental programs, Q&A style books and free online videos.  “Whether you’re just starting out on your faith journey or well along the road, Ascension has something for you.”

Father Mike Schmitz, He is one of the most popular Catholics on YouTube and one of six Ascension Presents podcasts, where you can find his audio on Ascension Presents.

Word on Fire Show - Choose from over 130 podcasts on interesting, relevant and Catholic topics presented by Bishop Robert Baron as part of Word on Fire ministry.  The site includes a description and outline of the podcasts for your convenience.

 Catholic Link -  Catholic Cast Media – Podcasts and YouTube -

• The mission of Catholic-Link Podcast is to offer dynamic catechesis for people on the move. Most people do not have time to sit down and study the Faith, so these episodes offer an opportunity to learn more about Catholicism or to grow in your relationship with the Lord, in short, 10-15 minute sessions offer an opportunity to learn more about Catholicism or to grow in your relationship with the Lord, in short, 10-15 minute sessions.
• The Catholic-Link YouTube channel offers resources to live your Faith to the fullest. With videos on prayer, leadership, questions about Catholicism, and various collaborations, this channel is a great tool to help you on your faith journey.

Franciscan Friars of the Renewal – Poco a Poco Podcasts - Join Fr. Innocent, Fr. Angelus and Fr. Mark-Mary, members of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, for their weekly podcast. The Poco a Poco Podcast offers "Practical Spirituality." The friars break open the Gospel in light of their years of prayer, communal life, and work with the poor.  The Poco A Poco Podcast is a source of rest, encouragement, refreshment, and renewal for all pilgrims helping them to discern and make the next best step. Poco a Poco, little by little, step by step we're making our pilgrimage to the Father's house.

For Children

Saints Stories for Kids - A weekly podcast of stories for kids about the Saints, from the creator of Shining Light Dolls, Chantal Baros.  Join us each week for a new short story!

The Catholic Sprouts Podcast has one goal: to plant one little seed of faith each and every day. The daily five-minute episodes are perfect for young listeners. Each episode discusses an important aspect of our Catholic Faith in a way that appeals directly to children and ends with a daily challenge to help them apply what they learned.

10 tips for making the season more meaningful

1. Slow Down - Set aside 10 minutes a day for silent prayer or meditation. It will revitalize your body and your spirit.
2. Read a good book - You could choose the life of a saint, a spiritual how-to, an inspirational book or one of the pope's new books.
3. Be kind - Go out of your way to do something nice for someone else every day.
4. Get involved - Attend a Lenten lecture or spiritual program.
5. Volunteer at your parish - Whether it's the parish fish fry, cleaning the church or helping with the food drive, it will give you a chance to help others.
6. Reach out - Invite an inactive Catholic to come with you to receive ashes on Ash Wednesday.
7. Pray - Especially for people you don't like and for people who don't like you.
8. Tune out - Turn off the television and spend quality time talking with family members or friends.
9. Clean out closets - Donate gently used items to the St. Martin De Porres Center (website HERE).
10. Donate — Pick one mission and decide how you can help by sending money, clothing or supplies.

Bless me, Father, for I have sinned…

If you haven't gone to confession in a while, Lent is the perfect time to reconcile yourself with God and the Church. Most parishes have communal penance services with prayers and Scripture readings, followed by the opportunity for individual confession (a necessity for absolution of mortal sins). Or you can also make a private appointment with a priest.

Preparation for confession should include an examination of conscience, which means you think back on sins you have committed since your last confession.

What happens during confession depends on the priest and the person. Most people still start with the formula: "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been (state the number of months or years) since my last confession."

If you can't remember the words or you don't recall how long it's been, don't worry. Just tell the priest it's been a long time, and he will guide you through the process.

What you will experience is the healing gift of God's love, the chance to start over with a clean conscience, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude.