Easter reminds us that life never ends and love never dies. All are invited to join us for a Lenten season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to help us prepare for the joy of Our Risen Lord during Easter! Please see below for more information:
Ash Wednesday
Wednesday, March 5th
6:30am Word Service with distribution of Ashes at QR
8:15am Mass of the Day with distribution of Ashes at SJE
11:00am to 1:00pm Drive-Up Service in front of Tasty Catering (1900 Touhy Ave)
12:15pm Word Service with distribution of Ashes at SJE
4:00pm Evening Mass with distribution of Ashes at SJE
7:00pm Evening Mass with distribution of Ashes at QR
Stations of the Cross
Prayed weekly on Fridays at 6:00pm followed by a light Lenten supper:
At Queen of the Rosary Church (QR) March 7th, March 14th, March 21st
(March 7th Pasta Supper presented by Queen of the Rosary School Parents Club)
At St. Julian Eymard Church (SJE) March 28th, April 4, April 11th
Parish Lenten Series
Legend of St. Patrick, March 11th, 7pm (QR)
Sacrament of Reconciliation Discussion, March 27th, 7pm (SJE)
Parish Reconciliation Service, April 2nd, 7pm (SJE)
Palm Sunday
Sunday, April 13th (distribution of Palms)
5:00pm (Sat, April 12th, Ant’d. Liturgy) SJE
8:00am QR
9:15am SJE
10:30am QR
Holy Week
Monday, April 14th to Saturday, April 19th
Daily Mass will be celebrated as usual on Holy Monday (SJE), Holy Tuesday (QR) and Holy Wednesday (SJE) at 8:15am.
On Holy Thursday (QR), Good Friday (SJE) and Holy Saturday (QR) we will have in-person morning prayer at 8:15am.
Seven Last Words of Christ
Tuesday, April 15th, 7:00pm SJE
Triduum
Holy Thursday of the Lord’s Supper
April 17th, 7:00pm SJE
7 Churches Visitation
Holy Thursday, April 17th (bus departs SJE following 7pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper)
Friday of the Lord’s Passion
April 18th
3:00pm Good Friday Service QR
7:00pm Living Stations of the Cross SJE
Blessing of Food BasketsHoly
Saturday, April 19th, 10:30am SJE
Resurrection of the Lord
Saturday Vigil, April 19th, 8:00pm QR
Sunday, April 20th
8:00am QR
9:15am SJE
10:30am QR
Easter Season
Sunday of Divine Mercy
Sunday, April 27th
Confirmation 1pm (QR)
Holy Hour 2:30pm (SJE)
First Holy Communion
Sunday, May 4th, 1pm (QR)
Feast of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament
Tuesday, May 13th
Faith in Action. Your gift at Easter and all year long supports the important ministry of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament and allows us to continue bringing healing, hope and hospitality to our parish family and the greater community. Follow this link to make a donation through our secure Online Giving platform, look for your Easter envelope in the mail or mark any envelope EASTER to make a donation this Easter.
Thank you for your generosity!
Speaking of prayer, Pope Francis says, “Christian prayer, like all Christian life, is not a ‘walk in the park.’ None of the great people of prayer we meet in the Bible and in the history of the Church found prayer ‘comfortable.’ Yes, one can pray like a parrot [repeat memorized prayer from rote] but that is not prayer. Prayer certainly gives great peace, but through inner struggle, at times hard, which can accompany even long periods of life.” But, the Holy Father also reminds us that, “Prayer works miracles, because prayer goes directly to the heart of the tenderness of God, who cares for us like a father.”
Building an intentional habit of prayer can inspire, challenge, encourage, strengthen and grow our relationship with the Lord. Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament offers resources and opportunities for prayer during Lent to help us build that intentional habit.
Grab a copy of the Magnificat Lenten Companion in our vestibules to guide you from Ash Wednesday to Holy Week. Daily prayer and reflection will help you open your heart to the healing only Jesus can offer. Booklets will also have a 2025 Lent & Easter Schedule bookmark so you'll be in the know on all the Lent & Easter happenings here at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament.
This year, rather then a Lenten Mission, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament is offering a Lenten Series. The serious will include:
Legend of St. Patrick, March 11th, 7pm (QR)
24 Hours for the Lord, March 28th, Noon – March 29th, Noon (QR)?
Sacrament of Reconciliation Discussion (TBD)
Parish Reconciliation Service, April 2nd, 7pm (SJE)
And don't forget that opportunities for Adoration and Reconciliation continue through Lent. Adoration begins with daily Mass on Wednesdays and the First Friday of the month at St. Julian Eymard and at Queen of the Rosary Church on Saturdays. Reconciliation is available at 7pm on Wednesdays at St. Julian Eymard Church and at Noon on Saturdays at Queen of the Rosary Church.
Stations of the Cross, during Lent is a powerful way to connect with the suffering of Jesus and to deepen our spiritual life. It is an opportunity to reflect on the ways in which we too are called to make sacrifices and to serve others, following in the example of Jesus. Join Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament each Friday for Stations of the Cross at 6:00pm, followed by a light Lenten supper. Download the schedule here or see the complete schedule in our vestibules or check the bulletin and eNews each week.
Fasting during Lent is a practice that involves abstaining from certain foods or limiting the amount of food eaten. We observe this practice as a way to prepare for Easter and to deepen our spiritual life.
During Lent, Catholics aged 18-59 and in reasonable health are required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. This means that we can have one full meal and two smaller meals that, when combined, do not equal the size of the full meal. Additionally, Catholics 14 and older are required to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays during Lent.
The purpose of fasting during Lent is not to punish the body, but to discipline it in order to focus more on spiritual matters. By denying ourselves certain foods or limiting the amount we eat, we are reminded of the sacrifices made by Jesus and the importance of spiritual nourishment.
While fasting during Lent is required for certain days, some Catholics may choose to fast voluntarily throughout the season. This can take many forms, such as giving up a favorite food or drink, limiting screen time, or committing to daily acts of charity.
Overall, fasting during Lent is a meaningful practice that helps us prepare for Easter and deepen our relationship with God.
Almsgiving, or the act of giving to those in need, is an important practice during the season of Lent. Helping those in need—providing food, shelter, clothing and other necessities to those who would otherwise go without—is one way we reflect the generosity of God and in turn grow closer to Him. Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament has chosen to collect funds to benefit local behavioral health programs.
Questions? Please contact Mary Ellen Ottenstein at (847) 979-0901 x1007 or maryellen@olbsegv.org.