Parishes participate in Lenten worship

By JULIE KEANE, Globe staff reporter
March 4, 2004

Parishes in the diocese have been planning and participating in different events to help them grow in faith during this Lenten season.

Parishioners of St. Cecelia in Algona have the opportunity to attend stations of the cross and Mass each Friday night during Lent. St. Cecelia also offers Lenten vespers on Sunday nights. Father Paul Eisele, Deacon Robert Larsen and Lorri Larsen, pastor associate, are offering faith formation throughout Lent on Wednesday nights. Those attending can also attend the soup supper that is offered before hand as well.

"We have done various things in the past," Deacon Larsen said. "This Lenten season we are going to do some Scripture reflection on the next Sunday's readings. We will get anywhere from 35-50 people."

Deacon Larsen also said that St. Cecelia will be offering stations of the cross for the grade school students each Friday at noon.

Father Richard Ball said ecumenical services will be offered each Sunday night for his parishes, St. Mary's in Dow City, St. Boniface in Charter Oak and St. Mary's in Ute. He said that ecumenical services are important during Lent because this is a time that binds together all people of Christian faith.

"We all believe in the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and it is a very good opportunity for us to gather together and share what is most common in our religious beliefs, which is the salvation of Jesus Christ through the cross," Father Ball said.

He said that there is usually a good turn out on Sunday nights for the ecumenical services. Parishes from the surrounding areas are encouraged to attend, but normally the majority of the people in attendance are from his three parishes.

Father Ball also offers Benediction services, stations of the cross and reconciliation with Mass following at one of the three parishes in the evenings. The services rotate between the three each night.

"It is a very important time in our church," Father Ball said. "For such small parishes, we get an overwhelming response during the Lenten season. Every year I have people say 'are we going to have everything we had last year.' It is nice to have young people and older people bring their families to celebrate. They yearn for it, so when I offer these opportunities I can see the response."

The religious education students also have Benediction services, stations of the cross, reconciliation and Mass on Wednesday nights. Charter Oak and Ute's religious education programs are grouped together and take place opposite Wednesday nights of Dow City's religious education classes. Father Ball said that this gives the students an opportunity to participate in something every other week.

The religious education students in Odebolt are also participating this Lenten season by collecting for Birthright of Siouxland. There are baby bottles at each entrance to St. Martin's and in each classroom for the children to donate candy and snacks. Malinda Bengford, director of religious education, said that there is an announcement in the bulletin and anyone wanting to donate to the collection can.

"We have learned that they are really beginning to feel better about helping others," Bengford said. "Since we have started doing this the last couple of years, they have really gotten into it. They really feel good about helping someone."

Parishioners of St. Martin's also have the opportunity to attend an adult education series this Lent. Father John McGuirk said that there will be five sessions held at both St. Martins in Odebolt and St. Joseph in Wall Lake.

The first session will be held on March 1 at St. Martin's. During the first session those in attendance talked about the gift of God's love and how to seek God's love. The second session will be held on March 8 at St. Joseph's. The topic discussed was the goodness of God's love and how to establish and reestablish a close relationship with God. The third session will take place on March 15 at St. Martin. Discussion will be based on receiving God's gifts and how to make a surrender to Christ by deep repentance and stepping out in faith. During the fourth session held on March 22 in Wall Lake, parishioners will focus on is surrendering to God's love. The last session set for March 29 in Odebolt will explain how to preserve a new spiritual life and handle the challenges and trials that will try to diminish it.

"I think a key element to spiritual life is to surrender your life to our Lord," Father McGuirk said. "So many things can not happen unless that surrender occurs. That is the focal point, to allow that surrendering of our hearts and life to God."

The youth at St. Patrick's in Sheldon will participate in stations of the cross and Reconciliation during Lent. Students in St. Patrick's Grade School will be doing stations of the cross each Thursday during Lent and the religious education students will be participating in reconciliation service during the month of March.

The high school students will also be reading the Passion on Good Friday. Nancy Michels, DRE and youth minister, said that this gives the students an opportunity to participate in the liturgy and also helps them to internalize the experience of Christ.

"We see Lent as a time of sacrifice and generosity as Catholics," Michels said. "By giving up time and spending more time in prayer, including stations of the cross, we are establishing habits in our young people that go back generations by providing prayer, fasting and giving to the poor during those 40 days of Lent."