Stmaryfc.org | St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church

Lent begins February 18th!

People often don’t look forward to Lent. Words like “sacrifice,” “discipline,” and “self-denial” are often used in ways that suggest that Lent is something to be endured rather than a time of grace and spiritual growth. Imagine for a minute that this Lent is going to be different than any other Lent. Imagine that God wants to transform our lives and that something wonderful is about to happen! With an openness to God’s grace and a desire to receive it, Lent will no longer feel like a burden, but rather a blessing.

Scroll below to find more about our 2026 Lenten theme, “Be Rooted in Christ” and many helpful resources.

Cllick link to read the article at Loyola Press – Lent Through the Lens of Grace

Lenten Events at St. Mary

Be Rooted in Christ : Be Opened to the Living Word of God

Presenter: Fr. Ken Simpson

March 3, 2026 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. in the Main Church

Being rooted in Christ means living a life deeply connected to Jesus, drawing identity, stability and strength from Him, not just in belief but through continuous action like prayer, sacraments, Scripture, and living His teachings. There is power and strength in the Word of God. Explore the process of Ephphatha, a profound spiritual practice rooted in Mark 7:31-37, where Jesus heals a deaf-mute man. It symbolizes opening one’s ears to hear God’s Word and mouths to proclaim it. It invites spiritual transformation, removing barriers to hearing, understanding, and communicating divine truth.

i was there reflections at the Foot of the Cross lent

I Was There: Relections at the Foot of the Cross – A Lenten Dramatic Event

Friday, March 27, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. | Main Church (Follows the Stations of the Cross)

I Was There: Reflections at the Foot of the Cross, is a reflection and meditation on The Passion of The Lord Jesus from the people who were historically noted to be there. It is a compilation of contemporary, imagined monologues written for biblical characters and includes a selection of songs that accompany the characters and stories told by the paralyzed man, the blind man, the bride from Cana, Mary and Martha, the Centurion, and others, including Mary the Mother of Jesus. There is no registration required or cost to attend. Join us!

Liturgy, Sacrament & Devotion

Ash Wednesday is 46 days before Easter Sunday and one of the most widely observed holy days on the liturgical calendar. Mass times are at 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Liturgy of the Word with Ashes at 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Reconciliation is offered Saturdays from 4:00 – 4:40 or by appointment. A communal reconciliation service with individual confessions will be offered on Monday, March 16th at 7:00 p.m. Please note no Confessions on Holy Saturday.

Stations of the Cross will be offered each Friday at 6:30 pm in the Main Church. A simple soup supper will be offered each week before stations at 5:30. Click below for more details.

More information on Lenten Soup Suppers

Be Rooted in Christ - 2026 Lenten Reflection Series

What does it mean to Be Rooted in Christ? It means living a life deeply connected to Jesus, drawing identity, stability and strength from Him, Each week explore the key ideas behind our Lenten theme to help us grow ever closer to our Lord.

1st Sunday of Lent

Lent 2026 Prayer Card (2 x 3.5 in) (1080 x 1080 px) (1)

We turn first to Book of Ephesians for our theme, where Paul prays and asks everyone present to “be rooted and grounded in love,” and that they may be “filled with the fullness of God.” Our Church teaches that God is, in fact, love.

Lent 2026 Prayer Card (2 x 3.5 in) (1080 x 1080 px) (2)

We hear a Gospel that most of us are familiar with: the Transfiguration. Two key messages from Jesus stand out in this passage: “Rise, and do not be afraid.” and “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Lent 2026 Prayer Card (2 x 3.5 in) (1080 x 1080 px) (3)

In this Sunday’s Gospel, we encounter Jesus meeting the woman at the well. In this powerful moment, we see a beautiful glimpse of Jesus’ humanity. He is tired. He is thirsty. He simply asks for a drink of water. Jesus asks the woman for what she has.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, we see a glimpse of Christ speaking about sin and suffering. One line that especially stands out is when Jesus answers His disciples, saying, “…it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.”

Pope's Lenten Message 2026

Ahead of the start of Lent, Pope Leo XIV invites Catholics to open ourselves to listening, fasting, and community, urging us to abstain from words of hatred in order to make space for words of hope and peace. Click here to read the full message.

2026 Lenten Calendar from USCCB

Follow this daily reflection calendar from the USCCB. Find suggested prayers and reflections for each day from Ash Wednesday until Easter to guide you on your Lenten journey. Click here to visit USCCB for the downloadable resource.

St. Paul Center Bible Study

This Lent, starting February 18th, gather together with Catholics around God’s Word. Together we will encounter Christ, grow in discipleship, and share in studying Scripture. Membership is free through April 12th. Click here to learn more.

Crux Study from Ascension

Are you tired of making so much spiritual progress during Lent, only to see it disappear as you go back to “normal” on Easter Sunday? Every day this Lent, Fr. Columba Jordan—a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal (CFR) living in Ireland—will teach you how to surrender your life totally to God. Click here to learn more.

Free Hallow App for Lent

Hallow is the #1 Catholic prayer and meditation app designed to help users deepen their relationship with God. It offers thousands of sessions including daily Gospel, Rosary, Bible stories, and meditations to reduce stress and foster peace. Try during Lent free for 90 days! Click here to learn more.

The Prodigal Father

Are you ready to grow in your prayer life? To experience God like never before? This FREE program, featuring 40 Days of Prayer for Lent with Fr. Michael Denk will personally guide you each step of the way. , Advent or anytime in-between will help you to grow your personal relationship with God. Click here to sign up.

Catholic Customs & Traditions for Lent

Find quaint and creative details about our Lent and Easter practices and customs. History, theology, rites, rituals, and customs of the seasons are all described in this easy-to-read and enjoyable resource. Click here to download the booklet for free at Bayard.

Preparing for Lent

Fr. Mike explains how prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the three pillars of a spiritually fruitful Lent and challenges us to try new ways to exercise these Lenten practices, sharing several simple strategies for drawing closer to God. Click the video link above to watch.

Almsgiving with CRS

Participate in CRS Rice Bowl, a faith-in-action program that invites us to encounter the needs of the world. Rice bowls available in the narthex and will be collected after Easter or Give online this year at CRS.org

40 Songs for 40 Days

40 Songs for 40 Days is a beautiful Lenten playlist created by Steubenville Conferences. It’s an amazing list of 40 contemporary songs to help guide your prayer time this Lent. There is a direct link to Spotify so the work is done for you! Click here to access on Spotify.

Lent in 3 Minutes

What is Lent all about? Why do Christians receive ashes on Ash Wednesday? Why 40 days? Busted Halo explains the significance of this season of prayer, fasting, and giving, and how you can make the most of this time of repentance and renewal. Watch the Busted Halo video Lent in 3 Minutes

Living Lent Daily

This e-mail series delivers daily reflections based on the Scriptures of Lent, to prepare your heart for a new journey to Easter. The messages also include suggestions for further exploration of Lenten themes through additional online articles and prayers. Click here to receive the daily e-mails.