We’re going to give you some ideas for the Lenten Season, perhaps you’ll choose to take one of these challenges to rediscover the beauty and power of our call to be co-redeemers with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Challenge #11: Admit your sins to God. Ask his forgiveness and accept it with gratitude, thanksgiving, and humility. Celebrate the
Sacrament of Reconciliation. Can’t remember how? Here’s a
simple guide with some tips. Tell Fr. Phil it’s been a while, and ask him to guide you through it. St. Theresa offers confessions on
SATURDAY: 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM,
THURSDAY: 5:30 PM to 6:15 PM
, and by appointment. Please call Fr. Phil at 346-335-1803.
Challenge #12: You wouldn’t attempt to pass a class without studying the materials or take on a new job without knowing what is expected of you. Making Christ the center of your life is no different; make a commitment to read the
Sunday scriptures
before Sunday Mass. In the same way that reading up on football players, opposing teams, and coaching strategies will help you experience a game more fully, familiarizing yourself with the readings ahead of time will help you experience them in a deeper way on Sunday.
Challenge #13: Working from home often means working with terrible posture. Make it a point to sit up straight while you sit at your laptop or watch TV. Your body is a reflection of God's image. Take care of it. If you are conscious of your posture, think about a habit that has kept you from being whom God is calling you to be. Consciously give up that habit for Lent.
Challenge #14: Donate one thing each day, For example, you could donate a lightly worn piece of clothing or a blanket, a toy, a book, or a can of food. Can't find a thing to donate? Leave a tip on your next fast food meal or leave a dollar on a donation jar. Everything counts at this time where a lot of people are in great need.
Challenge #15: Pray for somebody. As you’re walking the streets, driving the highways, or waiting for a meeting to start, pick out a person who appears to be in need and
pray for that person. Everyone is in need of God's love.
Challenge #16: Try a new spiritual practice. Come or sign up for an hour of
Eucharistic Adoration every
Thursday, between 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. It's essential to have two or more adorers each hour so that Jesus is not left alone. If you would like to commit to adore our Lord for one hour per week, please contact
Diana Sepulveda at
dsepulveda@smithcarr.com
Challenge #17: Wake up a half-hour earlier and spend that extra time reading a devotional, doing some light exercise, or savoring your morning coffee and breakfast.
Challenge #18: Whenever you find yourself in a feedback loop of negative thoughts, try to think of three things you're thankful for.
Challenge #19: Use media to spread the Word of God or post a photo about the themes of Lent on a visual, personal level.
Challenge #20: Create your own Friday fish fry at home! There are tons of recipes online that you can cook. It’s not the healthiest thing in the world, but a fun Catholic tradition to help you abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent.