Webster County parishes to hold Lenten renewal

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
February 23, 2006

FORT DODGE - Parishioners of the Webster County Team Parishes will have a chance for spiritual enrichment this Lenten season.

According to Sister Margaret Kruse, pastoral minister at the team parishes, a five-day Lenten Parish Renewal is slated for the first week of Lent, March 5-9. To hold a spiritual event such as that during Lent in the year that marks 150 years of faith in Webster County appears to be great timing.

"We have been talking for the last four years about how we can pull all eight parishes together as a unit and we saw this as an opportunity for that to happen," she said. "This will not only help us to deepen our own spirituality, but will help us get to know one another better."

Facilitators of the renewal will be Father Mike Champlin, Sister Joan Bukrey and Father Nick Punch of the Thomas More Center for Preaching and Prayer out of Webster, Wis. The experience will begin by the three sharing reflections at all of the weekend Masses.

The general theme for the renewal is Building on 150 years of Faith. The renewal will be an opportunity for those who attend to hear talks and see how their faith relates to their daily lives.

The first session is slated for March 5 from 7 to 9 p.m. All sessions will be held in the Corpus Christi Center, except Wednesday evening. There will be two sessions everyday Monday through Thursday, March 6-9.

Mass each morning will be held at 8:30 a.m., followed by a session from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Mass will be held at 6:15 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday night with the session from 7 to 9 p.m. Mass starts out the night of activities on Wednesday evening at 5:15 p.m. in the St. Edmond gymnasium. On Thursday night, the closing Mass at 7 p.m. will include Anointing of the Sick. A reception will follow.

Sister Margaret pointed out that families are particularly invited to attend Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening sessions.

"Tuesday night will be a time for reconciliation, so families are encouraged to attend as a whole unit," she said. "They will have families doing something together as part of reconciliation."

The format of Wednesday night will be similar to the Faith Festivals that the team parishes hold on a regular basis. After the 5:15 Mass that evening, supper will follow.

"We will have them gather at St. Edmond's so the whole family can participate. The adults will reflect on what we have received from our ancestors in terms of the faith and the students will be divided into their age groups to do some reflection as well," said Sister Margaret. "It's an opportunity to do something together."

Through the five days of renewal, the pastoral minister said that she hoped the parishioners come to a deeper experience of God in their lives and do that in the context of community.

Sister Margaret pointed out that all nine sessions are different and they are all self-contained, not building on one another.

Child-care will be provided for preschool-age children. If transportation is needed, make arrangements by calling the parish office at (515) 573-3616.