Parishes take part in variety of unique Lenten projects

By Melissa Kokenge, Globe staff writer
March 30, 2006

Some parishes in the diocese are doing very unique things throughout Lent.

One of those parishes is the Our Lady Of Good Counsel Church in Holstein. They took a spin off of the rice bowls and in its place; the parish religious classes are using the Mini M&M containers to fill with coins. The containers are a perfect fit for pennies, nickels, dimes and even quarters.

"We got them little M&M's in the plastic tube with the lid and I just wrapped a note around the tube that said For Lent eat their M&M's while their fasting and while their alms giving they can put their coins in the little tube and a quarter fits perfectly," said Joyce Galvin, DRE at Our Lady off Good Counsel Church.

So far the students have really taken off with the idea and have filled up many of the M&M mini's containers.

"I told them to make it a whole Lent project and there are several that have turned them in so far," said Galvin.

The filled containers can be brought to Mass on Holy Thursday, April 13, or to religious education class any time before that. All funds collected will go to Catholic Relief Services.

"I haven't opened the containers so far, I thought I would wait and be surprised," said Galvin.

Another parish in Algona is having a six-week series through Lent called "Journey of Faith," for the 6th and 8th graders.

"It has been a great way to get kids to think a little more about the readings and about how important Lent is to us," said Darcie Kramer, DRE at St. Cecelia Church.

The group began meeting on six consecutive Wednesday evenings at the PAC from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8. The last meeting is slated for Wednesday April 12. There will also be various activities for the kids to participate in. Such as skits, games, music, pizza, a Bible study, basketball, and more.

"The skits have to do with the readings that we have at Mass each Sunday it pulls a little more meaning into the readings, the turn out has been good and the kids are enjoying it and really getting into it," said Kramer.

The only cost is $3 per person for pizza and pop, and all 6th through 8th graders are welcome to attend.

In Sioux City the students of the Holy family cluster religious education program are going with the theme of prayer, fasting and sacrifice. The kids are donating pocket change to help people who need to buy medication from a pharmacy. They are also participating with the Catholic Relief Services donations.

"We are doing both for outreach and additionally we are working with the theme

Journey through Lent," said Mary Kay Daniels DRE for the cluster.

The students are symbolically trying to show the Journey Through Lent by having sets of footprints on the floor of their school where they meet. Each day a new set of footprints is added.

"We have foot steps where the school children meet, a pair of foot steps representing every day of Lent, to teach the students symbolically that we are on a spiritual journey," said Daniels.

Each Sunday is marked with a candle, and a chart giving the scriptures from Sunday are also up for the kids to see, Carrie Rustin, Daniels' assistant, is the one in charge of making all of this happen.

When Easter arrives the kids are going to make pictures of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. They will also keep adding footprints in preparation for Pentecost.

"In our Catholic tradition we need to celebrate 40 days after Lent and we are going to focus on preparing for Pentecost," said Daniels. "We are having wonderful participation, I am thrilled with the generosity of the kids."