A novena is a prayer that occurs daily over the nine days preceding the celebration of a solemnity. A solemnity is a feast day of the highest rank celebrating a mystery of faith such as the Trinity, an event in the life of Jesus, his mother Mary, his father Joseph, or another important saint. The Solemnity of St. Joseph is celebrated on March 19. Pope Francis has declared this to be the Year of St. Jospeh. Please visit the US Bishop's website to see a special prayer each day to St. Joseph as well as a short video. This will be a special Lenten opportunity for all parishioners. To visit the website click here.

The USCCB has composed this novena to be prayed yearly on March 10-18, the nine days that precede the Solemnity of Saint Joseph on March 19. Each day of the novena is accompanied by a reflection video from bishops across the United States. The novena may also be adapted for use at other times of the year, especially feasts celebrating Saint Joseph and occasions when his intercession is sought by the faithful.

Saint Joseph occupies a special place among the cloud of witnesses in heaven. In the Collect (opening prayer) for the Solemnity of Saint Joseph on March 19, the Church recalls how he watched over the beginnings of the mysteries of human salvation in the life of Christ. Christ wills to repeat those very same mysteries in our lives. In us, Christ wills to be born, to die, to rise, and to ascend to the Father’s right hand. Saint Joseph, who faithfully cared for the beginnings of these mysteries, faithfully cares for us as these mysteries are perpetuated in our hearts, homes, and communities.

Sacred Heart Parish has a rich choral tradition. The parish has dearly missed the choir, Schola Cantorum, under the direction of Don Kendrick during the pandemic. The University of Notre Dame, South Bend IN, is providing sacred Lenten music throughout Lent at their website. "During the season of Lent, FaithND will provide meditations on this season of preparation through musical offerings from the many Notre Dame choirs and sacred music ensembles. Songs will be featured on Ash Wednesday, each Tuesday and Saturday of Lent, and every day of Holy Week through the Octave of Easter."
To listen to these sublime pieces of music click here.

On November 11, 2020 Pope Francis wrote a message for Lent 2021. In part he wrote: 

"Lent is a time for believing, for welcoming God into our lives and allowing him to “make his dwelling” among us (cf. Jn 14:23). Fasting involves being freed from all that weighs us down – like consumerism or an excess of information, whether true or false – in order to open the doors of our hearts to the One who comes to us, poor in all things, yet “full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14): the Son of God our Saviour."

• To read this one-page message from His Holiness Pope Francis visit the Vatican website. Click here.
• To follow "Messages for Lent" from the Vatican click here.
• To read the message of Pope Francis focusing on the three theological virtues in his Lenten message for 2021, click here. Pope Francis invites the faithful to “renew our faith, draw from the living waters of hope, and receive with open hearts the love of God.”

What is Lent? It's a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms; and we practice self-control through fasting. We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully. We recall the waters of baptism in which we were also baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.To read more about the season of Lent visit the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. Click here.

Bishop Soto has issued Lenten regulations for 2021 for the faithful of the Diocese of Sacramento. The bishop notes, "Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season in which the faithful are called to reflect on the Paschal Mystery more intentionally. It is a time of spiritual renewal and to examine one’s relationship with God and others more carefully. It is also a time in which catechumens prepare to receive the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil. The Church calls everyone, therefore, to a spirit of penance through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving." To find Diocesan resources on observing Lent click here.

• Visit the Diocesan website for details about abstinence and fasting.  Click here. 
• Abstinence means to refrain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays for all individuals 14 years and older.  Other forms of abstinence, for example, are abstinence from alcoholic beverages, television, video games, the internet, and social media.
• Fasting means individuals from ages 18 to 59 may only eat only one full, meatless meal and 2 smaller meals on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.  Voluntary fasting on other weekdays of Lent, especially on Wednesdays and Fridays, is highly recommended.
• When health or ability to work would be seriously affected, neither the law of fasting nor the law of abstinence obliges. 

• 2021 Diocesan Annual Appeal has begun. Our Diocese helped over 362,000 people last year through the financial support of all of our parishes.  Please consider helping those who are:
  • recovering from natural disasters, 
  • experiencing homelessness, 
  • returning to society from jails and prisons, 
  • protecting the unborn, and 
  • living in poverty. 

Your contribution sustains these vital Diocesan programs.  ACA envelopes are available in the church vestibule or you may call the Parish Office and an envelope will be sent to you. For more information on how you can help, click here.

• Catholic Relief Services collects money to relieve hunger and poverty throughout the world. Their website has wonderful examples of Lenten practices, inspiring videos about the good work of CRS, recipes for meatless meals, a booklet for praying the Stations of the Cross, and stories of hope. To see these resources click here.

• Read or listen to Pope Francis’ short book entitled The Church of Mercy, A Vision for the Church.  Available on Amazon.
• The Year of St. Joseph. 
  • Vatican Website. There are numerous prayers and devotions for you at the Vatican website to honor St. Joseph. Watch the Bulletin for Parish activities surrounding this Year of St. Joseph. To visit the Vatican website click here.
  • USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) website. There is a 9 day Novena to St. Joseph with prayers and a video for each of the nine days. Take time to immerse yourself in the Novena, to pray and watch. To visit the USCCB website click here.
• Unpack the Sunday Mass Readings.  
  • Visit the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops website for 3-minute daily video reflections on the Mass readings of each day. Click here.
  • Visit Catholic Theological Union website recommended by our friend Fr. Robin Ryan, CP Click here.
  • Visit St. Louis University website. Click here.
• Attend in person daily Mass at Sacred Heart or online at Catholic TV. Click here.
• Pray Morning Prayer. Click here.
• Pray Evening Prayer. Click here.
   

"One of the counter-intuitive blessings of Lent is that it is long enough to be tedious. It’s simply not possible (at least in my experience) to keep up a state of intense spiritual activity for the whole forty days (or forty-six, if we count the Sundays of Lent). Forty days is time enough to start out feeling very high-minded about what one has chosen to give up as a penance or take on as a devotional practice, and to come down to earth with the humbling recognition that we’re not quite at the level of holiness we thought we were." To read more of Dr. Ordway on Word on Fire blog click here.