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During Lent, the Church asks us to surrender ourselves to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We seek the Lord in prayer. The fasting that all do together on Fridays is but a sign of the daily Lenten discipline of individuals and households: fasting for certain periods of time, fasting from certain foods, but also fasting from other things and activities. Likewise, the giving of alms is some effort to share this world equally—not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time and talents. Contemplate the meaning and origins of the Lenten fasting tradition in this reflection.

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.
​
The key to fruitful observance of these practices is to recognize their link to baptismal renewal. We are called not just to abstain from sin during Lent, but to true conversion of our hearts and minds as followers of Christ. We recall those waters in which we were baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ. (USCCB)

Volunteers Needed

Holy Thursday

Click here for more information and
to have your feet washed on Holy Thursday.
Lent & Easter Schedule
Ash Wednesday
Wednesday, February 18
8:00 AM Mater Christi Church Mass (with the distribution of ashes)
8:30 AM St. Mary Church Mass (with the distribution of ashes)
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
       Mater Christi Church & St. Mary Church; Distribution of Ashes
        ONLY
3:30 PM Mater Christi Church – Prayer Service & Distribution of
                      Ashes ONLY
4:00 PM St. Mary Church – Prayer Service & Distribution of Ashes
                       ONLY
7:00 PM St. Mary Church – Mass (with the distribution of ashes)
7:00 PM Mater Christi Church – Mass in Spanish (with the
​                       distribution of ashes)

Ash Wednesday

Click here to sign up to help distribute ashes
​in our churches between the Masses and services.
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
Saturday, March 28 and Sunday March 29
Regular Mass schedule at both worship sites
Triduum​; Holy Thursday, Good Friday, & Holy Saturday
No morning prayer or Mass on 4/2, 4/3, 4/4.
Holy Thursday, April 2
Liturgy of the Lord’s Last Supper
  • 7:00 PM St. Maru Church Mass (Bilingual) followed by
    • ​​Altar of repose and Adoration at:
      • Mater Christi Church until Midnight and
      • St. Mary Church until Midnight
      • Click here for more information about visiting "7" Churches on Holy Thursday and local churches to visit for adoration.
Good Friday, April 3
Celebration of the Lord’s Passion
  • 3:00 PM St. Mary Church – Service with Veneration & Communion
  • 3:00 PM Mater Christi Church - Service with Veneration & Communion
  • 7:00 PM St. Mary Church- Stations of the Cross with Veneration (No Communion)
  • 7:00 PM Mater Christi Church – Service with Veneration & Communion in Spanish
Holy Saturday, April 4
Vigil for the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord
No Regular Saturday Evening Masses
  • 12:00 PM Blessing of Easter Baskets and Food at both campuses
  • 7:00 PM Easter Vigil Mass at Mater Christi Church (Bilingual)
​
Easter
Sunday, April 5
Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord
  • 8:00 AM Mater Christi Church (Spanish)
  • 8:00 AM St. Mary Church
  • 9:30 AM Mater Christi Church
  • 10:00 AM St. Mary Church and Parish Center
  • 11:00 AM Mater Christi Church
  • 12:00 PM St. Mary Church
  • ​12:30 PM Mater Christi Church (Spanish)
  • No 5:00 PM Mass Easter Sunday
Lenten Mission: Lives of the Saints; Living by Example
Movie (No Speaker)
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Triumph of the Heart
​St. Mary Campus

Triumph of the Heart
A movie about St. Maximillian Kolbe
​
Beginning at 6:30pm

Please be sure to register to save your seat.

Click here to register or scan the QR Code.

*Coffee and conversation to follow in the lower level of the church.
Sr. Karina Conrad (Español)
Thursday, March 5; 6:30pm
El testimonio de los santos inspira y anima nuestra vida de fe.
Mater Christi Church; 2401 S. 10th Ave., North Riverside

​El testimonio de los santos inspira y anima nuestra vida de fe.
Hermana Karina Conrad es miembro de la Congregación de la Divina Providencia. Actualmente trabaja como terapeuta en consulta privada, atendiendo a adultos en temas como trauma, ansiedad, transiciones vitales, fe/espiritualidad, duelo y eco ansiedad.
*Coffee and conversation to follow in the lower level of the church.
​Fr. Brian Taber, SJ
Thursday, March 12; 6:30pm
St. Ignatius Examen
Mater Christi Church; 2401 S. 10th Ave., North Riverside

St. Ignatius Examen
Fr. Brian Taber, S.J. is a native of Davenport, Iowa.  Fr. Taber earned a bachelor’s degree in classical / Near Eastern civilizations at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, where he first met the Jesuits and entered the Society in 2006. As a novice, he taught at St. Louis University High School and then earned a master’s degree in philosophy at Saint Louis University in 2011. Next, Fr. Taber was missioned to Marquette University High School in Milwaukee, where he taught history, was an assistant coach for the freshman football team and was the moderator of the student newspaper. In 2014, he was missioned to the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree while serving as chaplain of the Boston College men’s basketball team. He also served at Our Lady of Grace Parish in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and St. Mary of the Assumption in Revere, Massachusetts. Since ordination as a priest in 2017, Fr. Taber has been teaching Religious Studies, serving as sports chaplain and coaching at Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago.
Father Brian Taber, SJ, teaches history and theology, serves as chaplain, and is the coach for the Freshman Saint Ignatius College Prep football team.
*Coffee and conversation to follow in the lower level of the church.
Johnny Vrba
Monday, March 16; 6:30pm
St. Carlo Acutis Mosaic
​St. Mary Church; 105 Herrick Rd., Riverside

St. Carlo Acutis Mosaic

Click here to see Johnny's Website.

Click here for the Carlo Acutis Mosaic.
Johnny Vrba hails from Geneva, Illinois, an hour away from his favorite city in the world, Chicago. Which is strange considering he chose to study across the country at Arizona State University where he graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Management and a certificate in International Business.
At nineteen, Johnny became a founding father of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at ASU, led his fraternity to becoming the fastest growing SAE chapter in history, and spearheaded SAE’s inaugural Climb for a Cause summiting Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, one of the seven summits of the world, in support of the JP McNicholas Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (Live Like John). Johnny shot, edited, and produced a documentary of his climb to the roof of Africa which raised tens of thousands of dollars for pediatric brain tumor research. As a sophomore, Johnny taught WPC 101, an introductory business course, to twenty freshmen.
As an upperclassman Johnny was a founding member of the nonprofits Consult Your Community (CYC), which offers free consulting work for local businesses and Sun Devil Dance Marathon (SDDM) which raises money for the Phoenix Children’s hospital. The spring semester of his sophomore year, Johnny’s thirst for adventure led him to apply to the world’s most intense study abroad program, Semester at Sea. Disaster struck two weeks into the voyage when the coronavirus broke out. After 73 days and a rollercoaster of emotions Johnny retold the stories to his mom who said, “You could write a book!” So, equipped with a sixth-grade writing level Johnny set out to write his first book.
When Johnny is not busy changing the world through the power of the Holy Spirit, he can be found starting an overly expensive hobby and then questioning this decision. Some of his talents include speaking, making a scene, and engaging in taboo conversations with strangers. Some of his greatest weaknesses are slowing down, multi-tasking, and spiders. Johnny’s current mission is to be a catalyst for a new renaissance in the Catholic faith through storytelling and deeply meaningful multimedia art.
*Coffee and conversation to follow in the lower level of the church.
Elia Silva (Español)
Thursday, March 26; 6:30pm
Todos estamos llamados a ser Santos.
Mater Christi Church; 2401 S. 10th Ave., North Riverside

Todos estamos llamados a ser Santos.
​Elia Beatriz Silva es líder pastoral, educadora y creadora litúrgica. Originaria de la Ciudad de México y residente en Chicago desde hace más de tres décadas, es graduada de la Universidad de Santa María del Lago en estudios pastorales y en formación catequética. Actualmente cursa y se acerca a graduarse de la Maestría en Divinidad de la Catholic Theological Union, y es instructora en la Escuela de Liderazgo para la Evangelización de la Universidad de Santa María del Lago.
​
Su ministerio integra teología, estrategia, arte y acompañamiento comunitario, creando espacios de formación accesibles, bilingües y culturalmente sensibles. Profundamente apasionada por el amor de Dios, encuentra su inspiración en la vida cotidiana, en la liturgia y en la adoración al Santísimo Sacramento del Altar. Su misión es amar a Dios, seguir al Maestro Jesús y dejarse guiar por el Espíritu Santo, tendiendo puentes entre la fe, el amor y la esperanza para fortalecer comunidades conforme a sus necesidades. 
*Coffee and conversation to follow in the lower level of the church.
Lenten Prayer & Reconciliation Opportunities
​ADORATION
Mondays at Mater Christi Church 6:00 -8:00 PM
Thursdays at St Mary Church 3:00 – 8:00 PM
NO ADORATION ON APRIL 2 AT ST. MARY CHURCH

Click here for more information about visiting "7" Churches on Holy Thursday and local churches to visit for adoration.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK / HEALING MASS
Sunday, March 8, 2026; 9:30 AM Mass at Mater Christi Church
Sunday, March 15, 2026; 10 AM Mass at St. Mary Church
​Sunday, March 22, 2026; 8am Mass at Mater Christi (Spanish)

CONFESSIONS (DURING ADORATION)
Mondays: Feb. 23, Mar. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; 6:00-7:00 PM Mater Christi Church (Bilingual) 
Thursdays: Feb. 19, 26, Mar. 5, 12, 19, 26; 6:00-7:00 PM St. Mary Church (English)
Priest-Confessor will be there from 6-7pm
​NO ADORATION OR CONFESSIONS ON APRIL 2 AT ST. MARY CHURCH

PARISH RECONCILIATION SERVICE
Tuesday, March 24; 6:30-8:00 PM St. Mary Church     
                Please click here to view the recorded service on YouTube.
​         
​STATIONS OF THE CROSS                                          
​Fridays: 7:00 PM Stations of the Cross at Mater Christi Church
  • February 20 (St. Vincent DePaul)
  • February 27 (Knights of Columbus & Holy Name Society) 
  • March 6 (Music Ministry)                             
  • March 13 (Women’s Society)
  • March 20 (Hispanic Ministry-bilingual) 
Soup dinners will begin at 6 pm in the Marian Room preceding each Stations of the Cross.  
Each evening the Soup Dinner will be hosted and prayer service led by the group listed.
  • March 27; 7:00 PM Living Stations of the Cross at St. Mary Church led St. Mary School Students 
More Lenten and Easter Opportunities
Family Faith Formation
Adult Faith Formation
Lenten Women's Retreat
Feast of St. Hugh
Wednesday, April 1
8:00 AM Mater Christi Church
8:30 AM St. Mary Church
Divine Mercy Sunday
Sunday, April 12; 3:00 PM Mater Christi Church
​
Please join us for Holy Hour, Adoration, Confessions, and recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
Lenten Resources
Vicariate V Lenten Offerings