By Julie A. Miller
Catholic Herald

Liturgical season of Lent begins Feb. 28

SUPERIOR -- As a symbol of penance, foreheads will be marked with a cross of ashes on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 28. On that day, Catholics will begin a Lenten journey of spiritual growth that extends to Easter Sunday.

"I like to think of (Lent) as the church's retreat," said Office of Worship director Fr. Gabriel Baltes, a Benedictine. He added that the church gives three traditional ways to make this retreat: prayer, fasting and alms giving.

The prayer can take on different forms. One customary Lenten prayer is the Stations of the Cross. As part of it's Lenten observance, St. Mary Parish in Tomahawk will host Living Stations presented by St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in Rothschild. Costumed actors will portray each station accompanied by specially chosen music.

Baltes said the second element, fasting, purifies the senses and is a reminder that we have to always be hungry for something. "Fasting doesn't always have to be fasting from food, but that's a good way. I think we need to return to that. It's something very effective and time tested. It very concrete, very physical and touches us deeply."

As part of the third element, alms giving, the diocese has special collections during Lent to aid missions and other causes. Alms giving and fasting come together in hunger awareness programs available to parishes. One that is used in most parishes in the diocese is Operation Rice Bowl, a Catholic Relief Services program.

During Lent parishes also offer various renewal programs. Baltes said he will be the presenter at a weekly series at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior. The Wednesday sessions will combine some form of prayer with a soup supper and Baltes' presentation on the Eucharist.

Sr. Jolynn Brehm, a Franciscan Sister of the Perpetual Adoration, said she will lead a Lenten program at St. Peter Parish in Winter. Brehm is director of the Marywood Franciscan Spirituality Center in Arbor Vitae.

Sr. Pauline Wittry, also a Franciscan Sister of the Perpetual Adoration from the Marywood center, will present two Lenten sessions at St. Anthony Parish in Highbridge. According to Fr. John Scheer, SAC, Wittry gives two Advent and two Lenten programs at the parish each year. Scheer is pastor of the Mellen-Clam Lake-Glidden-Highbridge cluster.

Some parishes have parish missions during Lent. Fr. Lee Flaherty, CPpS, associate pastor at St. Anthony Parish in Superior, has been conducting missions for about 10 years.

"It's a three- to four-night series of conferences, usually set in kind of a liturgical setting. It's a challenge to the parish to reflect on its Christian call. It's usually focused on one aspect of the faith," Flaherty said.

Flaherty said he uses Scriptures to weave the separate topics for each evening around a theme for the mission. The final evening is usually a pep talk -- a challenge to take what they've learned out into the world.

Although Flaherty is not conducting any missions this year, he will be giving a seminar on the Catechism of the Catholic Church at St. Anthony during Lent.

In addition to parish sponsored programs, individuals and groups can take advantage of the offerings of the various retreat houses. Marywood Franciscan Spirituality Center has several one-day programs during Lent. Brehm said the programs focus on God's presence in our lives.

St. Anthony Retreat Center in Marathon will have a Lenten supper and spirituality evening, said director Fr. Daniel Crosby, a Franciscan. It will provide an opportunity for people to reflect on the mystery of spiritual growth.

McCabe Renewal Center in Duluth, Minn. offers individual and group retreats and is available to groups conducting their own retreats or workshops. The center is a ministry of the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery. According to administrative assistant Rita Rosenberger, their special Lenten program is an overnight centering prayer retreat to help people deepen their relationship with God through immersion in silence and prayer.

Editor's Note: For details on parish programs, watch for announcements on the Local Briefs page of the Catholic Herald and parish bulletins.

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2001