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:
Parish Mission: Our Restless Journey
Presented by Fr. Tom McCarthy
February 2nd and 3rd 7pm QR
Ash Wednesday
February 18th
6:30am Word Service SJE
8:15am Mass QR (with QR School)
11am-1pm Drive Up Service in front of Tasty Catering
Noon Word Service SJE
4pm Mass SJE
7pm Mass 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)
February 20, February 27, March 6
(February 20th Pasta Supper presented by Queen of the Rosary School Parents Club)
At St. Julian Eymard Church (SJE)
March 13, March 20, March 27
Charismatic Healing Service
February 26, 7pm (SJE)
Parish Reconciliation Service
March 11, 7pm (SJE)
Palm Sunday
Sunday, March 29th
5:00pm Saturday (March 28th) Anticipated Liturgy with distribution of Palms SJE
8:00am with distribution of Palms QR
9:15am with distribution of Palms SJE
10:30am with distribution of Palms QR (solemn procession, beginning outside?)
Holy Week
Monday, March 30th to Saturday, April 4th
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, March 31st, 7:00pm SJE
Triduum
Holy Thursday of the Lord’s Supper
April 2nd, 7:00pm SJE
7 Churches Visitation Holy Thursday, April 2nd (bus departs SJE following 7pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper)
Friday of the Lord’s Passion
April 3rd
3:00pm Good Friday Service QR
7:00pm Living Stations of the Cross SJE
Blessing of Food Baskets
Holy Saturday, April 4th, 10:30am SJE
Resurrection of the Lord
Saturday, April 4th, 7:30pm QR
Sunday, April 5th
8:00am QR
9:15am SJE
10:30am QR
Easter Season
Divine Mercy Holy Hour, April 12th, 2:30pm (QR)
Confirmation, April 26th , 1pm (QR)
First Holy Communion, May 3rd, 10:30am (QR)
Feast of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, May 13th, 8:15am (SJE)
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 2026 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, our Parish Mission will take place just ahead of Lent. On February 2nd and 3rd, Fr. Tom McCarthy will present Our Restless Journey at 7pm each night in Queen of the Rosary Church. Continuing our Lenten Journey, please join us for these events:
Charismatic Healing Service
February 26, 7pm (SJE)
Parish Lenten Reconciliation Service
March 11, 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. See the complete schedule in our 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.