2024 Lenten Renew Registration is Live!
This Lent, consider joining a small group at St Joseph’s. During the 6 weeks of Lent, small groups get together to grow in their faith and share in community while discussing a book. This year there are 3 options of books and plenty of meeting opportunities to choose from (see below for details). Click the "Lenten Renew Registration Form" in the "REGISTRATION" section to choose the day, time, and book you’d like to read this Lent!

Join Lenten Renew!
Lent is a time to renew our faith — something that requires prayer and reflection. Last year, both St. Joseph's and Archbishop Hebda chose to focus on nurturing our communities by encouraging all the faithful to become involved in small groups. In a small community we can see how Jesus himself, in the midst of activity, always took time for silence and prayer, and we realize how important it is for us to do the same. Why not add a special ingredient to your observance of the Year of Faith by taking time this Lent for quiet, prayer and sharing in a small community? Sign up for a day and time of the week that works for you. The change you experience will be well worth the time. Groups will begin meeting the week of Ash Wednesday. In-person and virtual options available.

LENTEN RENEW: Faith Sharing Small Groups at St. Joseph's
Lenten Renew is a wonderful faith formation opportunity to reflect and prepare for the Easter season. These groups are open to all parishioners as well as members of the wider community. For 6 weeks during Lent, small groups meet 90 minutes once a week to reflect on their faith, pray together, and support one another in their lives.

Three Book Options for 2024 Lenten Renew
This year, in an effort to engage more of our community, we’re offering multiple book choices! This allows participants to choose the day, time, and book that works best for them! We have the classic option of a lectionary-based book of reflections, a meatier option about the passion narratives in each Gospel, and a current events option!

  

OPTION 1: “Open our Hearts – Year B” 
“Take time this Lent to engage with scripture and reflect on different aspects of your spiritual life with Open Our Hearts. Look at how you live out your faith at home, in your parish, and in the world. Connect at a deeper level with the Sunday gospels and take time every day to reflect and pray. Each weekly small-group session includes scripture, prayer and reflections along with concrete ways to live out that faith. The book also provides a meditation and reflection question for each weekday of Lent.”

Groups who use this book will meet each of the 6 weeks of Lent.

OPTION 2: “The Passion and Resurrection Narratives of Jesus”
“The gospel stories of the passion and resurrection of Jesus are at the core of Christian faith, revealing the nature of God, the person of Jesus, and the path of every disciple. Explore these essential stories in the unique accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John with reliable guide Stephen Binz, and embrace the cross and resurrection in your own life. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayers, and access to online lectures are included.”

Groups who use this book will meet each of the 6 weeks of Lent.

OPTION 3: “Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity” by Fr. James Martin, SJ

“Building a Bridge provides a roadmap for repairing and strengthening the bonds that unite all of us as God's children. Martin uses the image of a two-way bridge to enable LGBT Catholics and the Church to come together in a call to end the "us" versus "them" mentality. Turning to the Catechism, he draws on the three criteria at the heart of the Christian ministry—"respect, compassion, and sensitivity"—as a model for how the Catholic Church should relate to the LGBT community.”
           
Groups who use this book will meet 2 times throughout Lent, as it is a shorter option than the other two.

REGISTRATION
Registration is Required and is located in the REGISTRATION section of this page or by contacting the Director of Children and Adult Faith Formation. Lenten Renew materials for those registered are available through the group lead or at the Parish Office.