The following parishes and retreat centers in and around the Diocese have announced Lenten events and programs:
Trenton parish to hold Lenten youth and family retreats
St. Joseph Parish, Trenton, will hold a youth and family retreat at 540 North Olden Ave.
The youth retreat in English will be held from 6 to 9:45 p.m. March 16. The evening will begin from 6 to 7 p.m. with Adoration with Confessions, 7 to 7:50 p.m., Youth Mass, 8 to 8:15 p.m., welcome in the gym, 8:15 to 9:15 p.m., Father Bill Halbing will speak on the topic “Call to Family, Community and Participation” and 9:20 to 9:45 p.m. the evening will end with a wood fire, social and send-off.
The family retreat in Spanish will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 17. The day will begin from 9 to 9:30 a.m. with welcome music, praise and worship, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Father Javier Diaz, pastor of Christ the King Parish, Long Branch, will give a presentation on “Preferential Option for the Poor,” 10:30 to 10:55 a.m., snack and music, 11 to noon, Father Cesar Rubiano, pastor of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton, will give a presentation on “Rights and Responsibilities in Society,” 12:15 to 12:50 p.m., lunch and Catholic joke telling session, 12:55 to 2:05 p.m., video on “Caring for God’s Creation,” 2:10 to 2:35 p.m., a short reflection about the Sacrament of Confession, Exposition and procession with the Blessed Sacrament to the church, 2:45 to 3:45 p.m., Adoration with Confessions and the day will end at 4 p.m. with Mass in English.
All are welcome. For information, call 609-394-5757.
Parish mission in Holmdel to feature Franciscan father
St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel, will hold a parish mission 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26 to 28 at 108 Middletown Road.
Franciscan Father Kevin Cronin will lead the mission and will join the weekend Masses Feb. 24 and 25.
Each date will include a 9 a.m. mini mission at Mass and a 7:30 p.m. mission service.
The themes will include: Feb. 26, “God’s Love in Jesus Brings True Joy!”; Feb. 27, “God’s Mercy Restores the Joy of our Youth” and Feb. 28, “God’s Healing Brings New Hope!”
For information, call 732-842-3963.
Allentown parish plans Lenten mission
St. John the Baptist, Allentown, will hold a parish Lenten mission 7 p.m. each evening Feb. 26 to 28 at 1282 Yardville-Allentown Road.
Msgr. Thomas J. Mullelly, Vicar for Clergy and Consecrated Life and diocesan director of seminarians, will celebrate Mass Feb. 26. Father Michael W. Wallack, secretary to Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. and director of Vocations, will talk Feb. 28 on “The Nature of Suffering and How to Embrace One’s Cross Based on the Teachings of St. John Paul II,” The Lenten Penance Service with individual Confessions will be held Feb. 27 and Feb. 28.
For information, call 609-259-3391.
Lenten soup supper series set in West Long Branch, Deal
St. Jerome Parish, West Long Branch and St. Mary Parish, Deal, will hold a simple Lenten soup supper series on Friday evenings at 6 p.m. followed by a lay speaker, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Stations of the Cross, and Benediction at 7 p.m. in the church. The locations will alternate between the two churches and dates as follows: Feb. 23 and March 9, St. Mary Church, 46 Richmond Ave.; March 2 and 23, St. Jerome Church, 254 Wall St. The Living Last Supper will be held March 16 in St. Jerome Church.
All are welcome. For information, call St. Jerome at 732-222-1424 or St. Mary at 732-531-1409.
Parish mission in Princeton
St. Paul Parish, Princeton, will offer a parish mission “Transforming our Lives Anew: Christ in the Eucharist and in One Another” 7 p.m. March 12 and 13 at 216 Nassau St.
Paulist Father Ricky Manalo, who currently teaches at Santa Clara University and the Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley, Calif., will be the guest speaker.
For information, call 609-924-1743 or visit www.stpaulsofprinceton.org.
Lenten evening of reflection scheduled in Willingboro
Corpus Christi, Willingboro, will hold a Lenten evening of reflection 7 p.m. March 12 at 63 Sylvan Lane.
The theme of the evening “Take up Your Cross and Follow Me” will be hosted by Conventual Franciscan Father Bart Karwacki, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Seaside Heights. He has a master of arts degree in psychology from The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., and received training in spiritual direction in the Franciscan Internship Programin Cincinnati, Ohio. He has provided spiritual direction and preached parish missions, retreats, and days of recollection for priests, religious and the laity.
Following the mission talk light refreshments will be served in Bogdan Hall. For information, call 609-877-5322.
Outside the Diocese
Loyola Jesuit Center to hold Lenten day of prayer
The Loyola Jesuit Center, Morristown, will hold a Lenten day of prayer “Whose Voice Speaks?” from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 1 at 161 James Ave.
The day will include breakfast, lunch, Reconciliation and Mass led by Jesuit Father Matthew Kunkel. The retreat will explore the difference between our inner voice, the false spirit, and the guidance of God: St. Ignatius and his rules of discernment.
Suggested offering is $40. To register, visit https://www.loyola.org/event/thursday-march-1-2018-day-prayer-lent/ or call 973-539-0740.
Lenten series set in Hillsborough
St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Hillsborough, will present its annual Lenten series noon and 7 p.m. March 2, 9, 16, and 23 in the parish center at 1900 Brooks Blvd.
Speakers will talk on a variety of topics, preceded by a short Lenten service in the church, followed by a simple Lenten meal of soup and bread in the parish center. The service, program and meal are scheduled to last approximately 90 minutes.
Topics, dates and speakers are as follows: March 2, noon, “George Papawick: How One man Changed Manville” presented by Pat Papawick Beronio; March 2, 7 p.m., “The Crucifixion” presented by Deacon Nicholas Sotack; March 9, 7 p.m., “You are a Temple of the Holy Spirit: The Awesome Dignity and Responsibility of the Christian Life” presented by John Harden; March 16, noon and 7 p.m., “Tragedy I the Carpathians: Operation Vistula” presented by Tom Peters and March 23, noon and 7 p.m., “The First Days of Holy week in the Byzantine Rite” presented by Glenn Sedar.
All are welcome. For information, call 908-725-0615 or visit www.stmaryhillsboroughnj.org.