-
Spiritual Preparation
Lent is a time of spiritual preparation, re-focusing our hearts and minds on the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus that enabled us to be co-heirs in his heavenly kingdom. The acts of penance and fasting during Lent unite us with Christ’s suffering. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and ends forty days later with the Triduum, excluding Sundays. Forty days is the traditional number for discipline, devotion and preparation in the bible. Moses stayed on the Mountain of God for forty days, Ninevah was given forty days to repent, and Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness praying and fasting, prior to beginning his active ministry. Join us as we begin our forty day journey toward Easter.
Prayer is the best place to begin, because it is the one that unites them all. Fasting and almsgiving are themselves forms of prayer. In prayer we talk to God, and He talks to us. This conversation takes many forms. Our range of expressions in communicating with God are set phases, quiet conversation, gestures such as the Sign of the Cross and the intimate embrace of the sacraments. We grow in love by repeating the Church’s prayers.
Fasting is an ancient religious discipline with a two-fold purpose. First, it gives us an awareness of the basic needs of life and demonstrates our mastery over our appetites. Secondly, this sacrifice leads to clarity of thought, which is a powerful tool for prayer. By fasting we signify our oneness with the Lord, acknowledge our need for conversion and give witness to our solidarity with those less fortunate. Fast and abstinence are an expression of our desire to be converted in our hearts, to be reconciled with God and each other.
Almsgiving is the foundational call of Christians to charity is a frequent theme of the Gospel.During Lent, we are asked to focus more intently on almsgiving, which means donating money or goods to the poor and perform other acts of charity.
2017 Lenten Penance Services in the Deanery (All Services begin at 7:00 p.m.)
Thursday, March 23 Our Lady of Wisdom, San Marcos
Monday, March 27 St. Mary , Wimberley
Tuesday, March 28 Santa Cruz, Buda
Wednesday, March 29 St. Anthony Marie de Claret, Kyle
Tuesday, April 4 Good Shepherd, Johnson City
Wednesday, April 5 St. Ferdinand, Blanco
Thursday, April 6 St. Martin de Porres, Dripping Sprgs.
Friday, April 7 St. John, San Marcos
Stations of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross in Spanish will be held at 6:30 p.m. and the English will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the church on the following Fridays.
March 3, 2017
No Stations of the Cross March 10th due to Confirmation
March 17, 2017
March 24, 2017
March 31, 2017
First Friday of March 2 & 3, 2017
Thursday 6:30 p.m. Mass followed by all night Adoration
Friday - (we will have Stations of the Cross instead of Mass for the 1st. Friday)
4:30 p.m. Confessions
6:15 p.m. Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament
6:30 p.m. Spanish Stations of the Cross
7:30 p.m. English Stations of the Cross
Confirmation Masses March 10, 2017
5:00 p.m. Bilingual Mass
7:00 p.m. English Mass
Bishop Joe Vasquez will celebrate both Masses
Palm Sunday April 9, 2017
Regular Masses—All Masses will begin in front of the Church 15 minutes earlier.
Holy Week Liturgies
April 11, 2017
10:30 a.m. Chrism Mass at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Austin.
Everyone is invited to attend.
No Mass/ Communion Service at 12:05 p.m.
Offices will be closed
7:00 p.m. Bilingual Mass with Presentation of Chrism & Anointing of the Sick
HOLY THURSDAY April 13, 2017
No Mass at 12:05 p.m.
7:00 p.m. Bilingual Mass Followed by Adoration until Midnight
GOOD FRIDAY April 14, 2017
3:00 p.m. Liturgy of the Passion (English)
6:00 p.m. Reenactment of The Way of the Cross, Veneration of the Cross and Communion (Bilingual)
EASTER VIGIL April 15, 2017
The Church will be closed until the Vigil Mass
No 8:00 a.m. Mass
No Morning or Evening Confessions
8:30 p.m. Bilingual Mass
EASTER SUNDAY April 16, 2017
7:30 a.m. English Mass
9:30 a.m. Spanish Mass
11:30 a.m. English Mass
1:30 p.m. Spanish Mass