Any UNorthodox Catholic folks want to share lenten support?

[chfriend]

I'd love to have support thread as we head into Lent.

dd1 (8) was explaining to dd2 (4) that since dd2 doesn't eat meat besides hotdogs (true) it won't be "too bad" for her during Lent, but that we won't eat hotdogs on Fridays.

And dd2 wanted to know how come God died and could Mommy (me) work a short day that day....

This was the conversation this morning that dp relayed to me at work.

I'm praying for some peace around my spirituality this Lent...

Anyone feel like sharing the journey with a really tired lesbian Irish Catholic mom?

[athansor]

I'm a former Catholic, and current Episcopalian but still observe Lent and would love to share the journey! I did get a very nice Lenten calendar from Food for the Poor which has some good suggestions of daily devotions. I might try to post some of those here.

[enkmom]

I'll join you! I use Lent as a time to re-focus. I try to attend Mass more often and to really be present during that hour. I try to let go of my bad habits and do something positive for someone every day. I would love some daily devotions to think and pray over. Let's all journey peacefully together.

[somanyjoys]

I'd like to join in the thread. I'm Episcopalian, so I consider myself catholic (with a little c). I try to incorporate activities into Lent for my three year old daughter. I'll post updates on that as we go. I have a little table inspired by Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and Waldorf's seasonal tables. Our church does Wednesday night dinners during Lent, so I feel a little indulged in that I'm looking forward to not having to cook one night a week during Lent. :

[katheek77]

I'm not Catholic (they won't have me , so, I attend a Presbyterian church) , but I'm doing a Lenten Fast this year (the past three years I was either pregnant or breastfeeding). I'll join in.

[spero]

I'm in

[athansor]

I'm going to try and post the daily devotions to this thread for Lent...it will be one of my ways of observing the season.
Although today is Shrove Tuesday, I'll be out of town most of tomorrow, so enjoy your pancakes or other goodies today, and here's tomorrows:

Gospel Reading: Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-18
"But take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them." (Matt 6-1)
My Offering to God:
I will anonymously do something kind for someone


Thees come from a nice Lenten calendar that I got from Food for the Poor.

[spero]

Originally Posted by athansor

My Offering to God:
I will anonymously do something kind for someone

Imagine if we all tried to do this, every day during Lent.

Oh, the possibilities! :

[darling_deedee]

I'll join in, too.
I'm Presbyterian as well but I attend Mass at the Catholic church every so often (they have a really great young people's Mass on Sunday evenings).

Lent is an important time. Thanks for starting this!

[wolfmom]

I would love to join you all! I am what I would most closely describe myself as a somewhat liberal Jewish Catholic woman who still believes in the good of the catholic church. For lent this year I am actually going to fast this year. (finally not pregnant or breastfeeding too much!) and my female spirituality group is working our way thru Joyce Rupp's book: Open the Door. So far it is really good and I highly recommend it!

So I look forward to getting to know you all!

[enkmom]

Are any of you doing Rice Bowl? My parish supports 2 missionaries in Brazil, and there is an envelope in the April bundle for support of those missionaries. Our old priest would always suggest we give up a soda or newspaper each day, and put the money saved in that envelope. The missionaries send back such interesting pictures of things they do with that support money.

My parish also offers a "Walk to Calvary" program I need to check out. The goal is to walk some every day, and there is a meditation to go along with each daily walk.

[spero]

Originally Posted by darling_deedee

I'll join in, too.
I'm Presbyterian as well but I attend Mass at the Catholic church every so often (they have a really great young people's Mass on Sunday evenings).

Born and raised Presbyterian-turned-Catholic here!

Originally Posted by enkmom

My parish also offers a "Walk to Calvary" program I need to check out. The goal is to walk some every day, and there is a meditation to go along with each daily walk.

I would love to know more about this, if you can post links ... I'm a regular walker and it's finally getting almost warm enough to start again. And I just got some x-c skis , so while we still have snow I can ski and meditate instead!

We are going to the Ashes service at 7PM ... there was no way I could make the 7AM service.

[somanyjoys]

for the kids

Last night we had a Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner at church, and the kids decorated an Alleluia banner, then had a parade around the church campus and buried the banner in a box to be dug up on Easter.

This morning, I set up the Lenten seasonal table for my daughter.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

The storyboard is from amazon, as is the coloring book. Since we aren't RC and some of the coloring pages are specific to that, I just take out a couple of pages a week for her to color and us to discuss. I picked two on Ash Wednesday for today. In the pot is a bare branch, and behind it is a basket of ribbons. Each night of Lent, we'll thank God for a specific blessing He has given us and tie a ribbon on the tree. By Easter, we'll have a beautiful tree full of blessings.

DD will get her ashes at the chapel service at preschool this morning, and dh and I will go at noon just before we pick her up.

[puffingirl]

Can I join, even if I'm waaaay outside the fold? I'm actually Buddhist but use Lent as a time to re-focus on my spirituality because I always know when it rolls around and it helps give me a structure. Some years I give things up, other years I add them (service work, gratitude letters to others). This year I'm giving up chocolate. It's a big thing for me--I have chocolate at least once a day and am always craving it. My intention is to use this as a spiritual practice in letting go of my grasping/craving thoughts across the board. I'm also intending to meditate more often.

[chfriend]

I had a wonderful conversation at work yesterday explaining Lent...why 40 days, what is the fasting and giving up for....I was so grateful to my many teachers as I explained it with the passion I feel for the religion that formed me. Explained how good and rich it is spiritually. Explained almsgiving and it's place in maintaining a just society. Explained, as an aside mind you, how the Irish saved civilization and learning in the Dark Ages.

This was my Mardi Gras present from my Church: http://www.newsobserver.com/1565/story/1416740.html

[enkmom]

I'm sorry, chfriend .

[athansor]

I'm sorry about that too, chfriend
Here's today's devotions:
Gospel Reading: Luke 9:22-25
"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me."
My offering to God: I will follow CHrist daily, even when it is difficult to do so.

[chfriend]

I really like the idea of a Lenten seasonal table. I was blown away by how much my children learned from a simple Advent wreath.

Your table is beautiful!

I've been visiting www.sacredspace.ie (the Irish Jesuits) lately.

Here's a lovely piece on the worldwide financial crisis:

http://sacredspace.ie/livingspace/financial-crisis/

[athansor]

That's a nice site, thanks for the link!

Here's today's devotion
Gospel reading: Matthew 9:14-15
"The days will come when the bridegrom is taken away from them, and then they will fast."
My offering to God: I will fast today and spend mealtime in prayer.

[chfriend]

Here's the Jesuits inspiration on today's reading:

"No matter what mystery of Jesus' life we go to in prayer, we can rejoice,. Even in his suffering and death, he is with us, and we do not mourn. Without his presence in our lives, we would truly mourn the loss of something and Someone really relevant and essential to our lives. Prayer focuses on the place of Jesus in our lives. "

I rejoice in the love of God that I see all around me, especially in the light of my children's eyes.