Lent
Lenten Opportunities at St. Leonard
Ash Wednesday Services
Wednesday, Feb. 18
Services that will include distribution of Ashes:
- 8 a.m. Mass
- 12 p.m. Word Service
- 4:30 p.m. Word Service
- 7 p.m. Mass (also livestreamed)
As a reminder, this is not a holy day of obligation.
Soup & Bread Meal
Contact MichelleAsh Wednesday, Feb. 18, 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Volunteer: Our Soup & Bread Meal would not be a success without our volunteers and donors. Sign up for your role here by February 8 so that we can plan accordingly.
About: Soup & Bread is a meatless meal held on Ash Wednesday to help us embark on our Lenten journey in fellowship. It is conveniently timed between two of our services with ashes. There is no cost to attend. Save the date: February 18, 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria.
Soup & Bread at home
If you're feeling inspired to bring the essence of the Soup & Bread meal to your home, we have each of the recipes right here!
Prayer
Stations of the Cross:
- Thursdays of Lent, 6 p.m., church
- Good Friday, 5 p.m., church
Rosary: First Sunday of the month at 8:25 a.m. in the church
Divine Mercy Chaplet: Third weekend of the month in the chapel after all Masses.
Eucharistic Adoration:
- Mondays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Wednesdays, 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
Chapel Hours:
Our chapel is open for private prayer during office hours and Eucharistic Adoration hours (see above). If there is a school Mass on a given day, the chapel will open at 10:15 a.m.
Fasting
Fasting is required for individuals ages 18-59 on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. This means consuming no more than a regular sized meal and two smaller meals that, when combined, are not bigger than the regular meal.
Abstinence from meat is required for individuals ages 14 and older on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays of Lent.
If fasting and abstinence would be harmful due to physical or mental health conditions, you can choose an alternate fast that doesn't involve food.
Almsgiving: Human Concerns Collections
See ListsEach week of Lent, our Human Concerns Committee collects items for different local not-for-profits. Pay close attention to the list of items specific to each week
Confession Times
Weekly Opportunities:
- Saturdays: 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
We will update this page with any additional Lenten confession opportunities in 2026.
When is Lent?
The Liturgical season of Lent occurs from Ash Wednesday through sundown on Holy Thursday. This year it is February 18-sundown April 2.
How do I observe Lent differently than other Liturgical seasons?
The pillars of Lent are Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. During Lent we practice these pillars to become better disciples. Is there any part of your life in which God isn’t prioritized, or a way you need to grow deeper in relationship with Him? Pray about what you need to "give up" or "take on" for Lent to help you work on that. Explore the opportunities we have at St. Leonard to get connected to the season (see above).
Why do we have Lent?
To prepare for Easter, but more specifically, to prepare for or remember your Baptism! Lent is about preparing for Christ's dying and rising at Easter, which we are united in through the Easter Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion. It is a final preparation phase for those entering into the Church through the Sacraments, and for those who have already been Baptized to return to faithful observance of the call to discipleship given at Baptism.
Why is the Sacrament of Reconciliation emphasized during Lent?
As described in the paragraph above, we are on a journey of returning to faithful observance of our baptismal identity and vocation. On that journey, when we recognize ways that we've missed the mark, we need to seek God's mercy- the grace to be cleansed of our sins and continue our journey with renewed strength to turn away from sin- in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
