Parish renewal to prepare Sacred Heart parishioners for Lent

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
February 16, 2006

BOONE - A unique Lenten journey will begin on Feb. 26 for Sacred Heart Parish in Boone.

A parish renewal will be led by the team of Father Mike Champlin, OP, Sister Joan Bukrey, OSF, and Father Nick Punch, OP from the Thomas More Center in Webster, Wis. Parishioners are invited to attend to relax, pray, listen and reflect.

"I had worked with this team before in Algona when I was there," said Father Steve Brodersen, pastor at Sacred Heart in Boone. "They use a Scripture-based approach to their presentations. Up there they certainly created a great deal of enthusiasm about it. I think it is a good thing, on occasion, to do this with a parish."

The parish renewal will begin with a 7 p.m. session on Feb. 26. Morning and evening sessions will be offered each day following through March 2. The morning sessions will begin after 8:30 a.m. Mass and the evening session will start at 7 p.m.

"I think this one in particular is going to be good because we are just entering into the Lenten season. It should really give us the opportunity to get Lent off to a good start," said Father Brodersen.

On Feb. 27, the morning session will be in the parish hall and the evening session in Sacred Heart Church. The morning session on Feb. 28 will be in the parish hall. Prior to the evening session in the school gym on Feb. 28, there will be a simple supper in the parish hall starting at 6 p.m.

On March 1, the morning and evening session will include Ash Wednesday Mass and will be held in the church. There will be Mass and an evening session in the school gym on March 2 followed by a closing party. The March 2 session will also include anointing of the sick, noted Father Brodersen.

"It is an opportunity to learn something more about our faith," said Father Brodersen. "We have some social events planned throughout this so it is an opportunity to create more community here in the parish. It is an opportunity for people to be together across the ages is a good thing."

The team will offer Scriptural themes at each session in a way that is palatable, practical and easily understood by adults, young adults and students sixth grade and up. The team believes that the word of God is ancient, yet contemporary and applicable to people's daily lives and struggles.

Each session will consist of a presentation of about an hour followed by questions. The Tuesday evening session is a reconciliation service. Transportation is available for those in need, and babysitting services are offered during the evening sessions.