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Welcome to the holy season of Lent, a time set aside by the Church when we work on growing closer to our Lord. Beginning at Ash Wednesday (Feb. 17), and throughout these 40 days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we prepare to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter.

How do we prepare?

  • By seeking the Lord in prayer by reading Scripture;
  • By serving the Lord by giving money for the poor;
  • By practicing self-control by fasting.

It’s not only about “giving something up,” but working toward true conversion of heart. We freely surrender our will in order to receive more of what the Lord wants to give us. For most of us, it’s not something that happens immediately, but a journey that we pray will help us let go of our pride and allow us to venture closer to the heart of God.

Here at St. Francis Xavier, we are pleased to offer a number of in-person and virtual opportunities that we pray will help you to grow this season.

Please take some time to review this page and see all that is available.

Lenten Mission

Father Mike and Tom Bonezzi are teaming up once again to present a three-part Lenten Mission based on the book “Let Us Dream” by Pope Francis.

Using a part of each chapter from his book, we will reflect on the Sunday Gospel, include music, offer reflection questions and be encouraged by a current-day story. It will be entirely online via our parish YouTube channel. Feel free to stop and start the mission as you need and, of course, please share the link with others.

“We can’t serve others unless we let their reality speak to us. To go there, you have to open your eyes and let the suffering around you touch you, so that you hear the Spirit of God speaking to you from the margins.”

Pope Francis, “Let Us Dream”
Sunday, Feb. 28 – Second Week of Lent…Chapter 1: A Time to See
Sunday, March 7 – Third Week of Lent…Chapter 2: A Time to Choose
Sunday, March 14 – Third Week of Lent…Chapter 3: A Time to Act

Stations of the Cross

Join us at 7 p.m. in the church as we journey with Christ toward his crucifixion and death on his final day on earth. This year;s 30-minute devotion will be centered on the Scriptural Stations of the Cross as celebrated by St. Pope John Paul II on Good Friday 1991.

The Feb. 19 Stations (only) will be livestreamed and accessible for viewing throughout Lent.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.

Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Dates:
  • Friday, Feb. 19
  • Friday, Feb. 26
  • Friday, March 5
  • Friday, March 12
  • Friday, March 19
  • Friday, March 26

Our Lenten theme and song


“Take, O Take Me As I Am”

With our Lenten theme of Journey to Conversion, Tom chose this song, “Take, O Take Me as I Am” by John L. Bell. “I felt it could have a profound impact as it is sung in the Taizé style, where the text is repeated over and over, so the individual can enter into meditation and deep prayer,” he says. “Especially since I’ve chosen to use this for our Communion procession each week, my hope is that upon receiving our Lord in the Eucharist, each person can listen to this melody and with the Body of Christ within them, be strengthened in their prayer and grow closer to God on their Lenten journey.”


Blessing of Easter Baskets

Blessing the Easter baskets of food to be enjoyed when the Lenten fast is broken is a time-honored tradition here at St. Francis Xavier. This year, Deacon Paul Kipfstuhl will bless baskets outdoors, weather permitting, at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 3. A location will be decided closer to the event.

Time:
3 p.m. Saturday, April 3

What goes into my Easter Basket?

Almost anything that your family will consume when you gather to celebrate Easter. Some foods have special prayers in the blessing. You might also want to include a treat for the dog!