Following are spiritual observances being held around the Diocese during the Lenten season.
WEST WINDSOR, St. David the King Parish, will hold a back-to-basics “Catholic Refresher Course” in the parish’s Spiritual Reading Room at 1 New Village Road on March 3, 10, 17, 24, and April 7, 9:30-11 a.m. Topics discussed include an introduction to the New Testament; Who was Jesus?; The Sermon on the Mount: What Did Jesus Teach; Prayer, and Death and Resurrection: The Meaning of Easter. Participants will have the opportunity to read, discuss and ask tough questions in an informal and congenial setting. Please bring a Bible to all classes. For further information, contact Nanci Bachman at nbachman@stdavidtheking.com.
MILLSTONE TOWNSHIP, St. Joseph Parish, will hold a six-week Lenten Bible Study. Sessions will be held Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. starting March 7 and ending April 11 and on Friday mornings at 10 a.m. starting March 8 and ending April 12. The study will explore the treasure of God’s wisdom in the Epistle of James and will focus on the themes of wisdom. Interested participants may sign up at the entrance of the church or online at stjosephmillstone.org. For more information, contact Carmen 732-792-2270 or carmenstjoseph@optonline.net.
BRANT BEACH, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, will host its annual “Soup and Stations” each Friday of Lent beginning March 8. A simple soup meal will be served at 6 p.m. in the church hall at 4700 Long Beach Blvd., then participants will move to the church for Stations of the Cross. A donation of a meatless crock pot of soup is always welcome. For further information, contact the parish office at 609-494-8861.
MEDFORD, St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, will offer a four-week adult scripture study led by Father Daniel Swift of “Jesus of Nazareth Part II – Holy Week: from the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection,” based upon Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s recent book of the same title, on March 11, 18, 25 and April 1 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Parish Meeting Room at St. Mary of the Lakes School, 40 Jackson Road. To register, contact the parish office at 609-654-8208 ext.110, or email the parish office@smlparish.org. Please bring your own Bible. If you need a Bible, New American Bibles will be sold for $6 at the class.
WHITING, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, will hold a parish mission, “To Whom Shall We Go,” March 11 to 13 in the church at 30 Schoolhouse Road. Each session will be conducted by the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Renewal and begin at 11 a.m. with a mission service. Mass is at noon, followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, then confessions at 2 p.m. Another mission service will be held at 7 p.m. For further information, see the parish website at www.seaswhiting.org, or call 732-350-5001.
BRICK, Visitation Parish, will host a Lenten series entitled “Be Still and Know Mercy” March 12, 19 and 26 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the church worship space at 755 Mantoloking Road. Father Joseph Jakub, parochial vicar, will discuss mercy, forgiveness and compassion and what it means to be still before God. Small group discussions will follow. Aimed towards adults, the mission is free. Register by March 11 at noon by contacting Dale Zanetti in the Adult Faith Formation Office at 732-477-7059 ext. 214 or dzanetti@visitationrcchurch.org.
RANCOCAS, Francis House of Prayer, will hold a Lenten Evening Retreat series March 13, 27 and April 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. at its retreat house at 39 Springside Road. The retreat will explore the grace-filled role of darkness for the spiritual journey. Donation is $50, includes “Sacred Darkness” which the group will read between sessions. For further information on this and other Lenten programs, see their website at www.FHOP.org or call 609-877-0509.
LAWRENCEVILLE, Lawrence Council, Knights of Columbus, will host a Lenten Retreat with Divine Word Father Martin Padovani March 16 from 9 a.m. to noon in the Faith Development Center of St. Ann Parish, 1253 Lawrenceville Road. Mass will be celebrated at 8 a.m. in the church. Father Padovani has been a Divine Word priest for almost 60 years. He is a psychotherapist, specializing in individual, marriage, and family therapy and he is a popular speaker on various topics related to spirituality, mental health, relationships and psychology. He is also the author of a number of books and articles which include “Healing Wounded Emotions” and “Healing Wounded Relationships.” For questions, contact John Sikorski at 609-883-2509 or jwsikorski@yahoo.com. The event is free and open to the public.
Outside the Diocese
MORRISTOWN, Loyola Jesuit Center, will host a day of prayer on Ash Wednesday, March 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. led by Jesuit Father Tom Marciniak. Cost is $40, which includes breakfast, lunch and Reconciliation. A Mass with distribution of ashes will be celebrated. Register at www.loyola.org, or call 973-539-0740. The retreat center is located at 161 James St., Morristown.