What is Lent?
Wednesday, March 2, 2022 - Thursday, April 14, 2022
"Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. 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.
Many know of the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, but we are also called to practice self-discipline and fast in other ways throughout the season. Contemplate the meaning and origins of the Lenten fasting tradition in this reflection. In addition, the giving of alms is one way to share God's gifts—not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time and talents. As St. John Chrysostom reminds us: "Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2446).
In Lent, the baptized are called to renew their baptismal commitment as others prepare to be baptized through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, a period of learning and discernment for individuals who have declared their desire to become Catholics."
Taken from the USCCB "What is Lent?", Copyright © 2021, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved
Lent 2022 Schedule
Ash Wednesday - March 2, 2022
12:15 PM Mass at OLV
5:00 PM Mass at OLS
7:00 PM Mass at OLV
Stations of the Cross - Every Friday in Lent, 7:00 PM
A Lenten Reflection will be part of each service
March 4th | March 18th | March 25th | April 1st | April 8th | April 15th
Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)
Every Saturday from 3:00 PM to 3:50 PM at OLV
Every Wednesday after the 12:15 PM Mass at OLV
After Sunday Mass at OLS
Communal Penance Service - April 13th, 2022 | Wednesday of Holy Week at 7:00 PM at OLV
Lenten Study Class
"Land of the Living", presented by Father Tom. 3 Session Dates: Wednesdays, March 16, 23 and 30 - 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Group is limited to 15. Please call the office to register.
Lenten Vespers Service
Thursday, March 24th at 7:00 PM at OLV in Troy
A special Lenten reflection will be part of this service
Diocesan Inter-Faith Event
Bishop Sharfenberger speaks to the Jewish Community of Albany, Wednesday, April 6th at Temple Beth Emeth, 100 Academy Road, Albany. Join us at Noon - Bring your lunch if you like - No reservations needed
Be sure to observe the laws of fast and abstinence this Lent
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In addition to choosing their own penitential practices, Catholics are also asked to observe the practices of fast and abstinence during the 40 days of Lent. The Lenten Fast and Abstinence Regulations are as follows: |
1. Everyone 14 Years of age or over is bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent. 
2. Everyone 18 years of age and under 59 years of age is bound to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
3. Fasting on Ash Wenesday and Good Friday means eating only one full, meatless meal. Two other smaller, meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each one's needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted on these two days, but liquids, including milk and fruit juices, are allowed. When helath or ability to work would be seriously affected, the law does not oblige.
4. Catholics should not lightly excuse themselves from these prescribed minimal penitential practices.
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