Lent
Lent, Holy Week, and Easter 2024
Lent is a forty day period of time during which Christians devote themselves to prayer, fasting, and works of mercy as a way of preparing themselves to celebrate Christ's death and resurrection at Easter. Originally a time of preparation for those who would be baptized on Easter, Lent gradually became a time when those who had left the practice of their faith would return to Christ and the Church.
Today, Lent offers Christians an opportunity to prepare themselves to recommit to their baptismal promises at Easter by returning to the basic practices of their faith.
Lake Shore Campus:
Madonna della Strada Chapel, all liturgies include the distribution of ashes:
- 9:30 a.m. Word Service
- 10:30 a.m. Word Service
- 12:00 p.m. Mass
- 3:00 p.m. Word Service
- 4:15 p.m. Word Service
- 5:15 p.m. Mass
-
9:00 p.m. Mass
Protestant Ash Wednesday Service, join us for a brief time of worship, reflection, and the imposition of ashes:
- 7:30-8:00 a.m., Palm Court – 4th Floor Mundelein
Water Tower Campus:
All liturgies include the distribution of ashes.
- 11:30 a.m. Mass in St. James Chapel (Quigley Center, corner of Pearson & Rush)
- 5:30 p.m. Mass in Kasbeer Hall (15th floor of Corboy Law Center)
Health Sciences Campus:
All liturgies include the distribution of ashes.
- 12:00 p.m. Mass, Cuneo Atrium
- 3:15 p.m. Word Service, Cuneo Atrium
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The forty days of Lent are a period in which Christians devote themselves to increased prayer, fasting, and works of mercy as a way of celebrating the Mystery which lies at the heart of our faith: the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord at Easter. This is also the time wherein converts to the faith enter the final stage of their preparation for baptism or full reception into the Church, and we especially pray for them during this time.
Lent is an opportunity for all Christians to take a self-assessment: where am I in my relationship with God? What more can I do to put this relationship at the center of my life? What stands in the way of being my most authentic self, that is, a beloved daughter or son of God?
In addition to regular acts of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, the Church asks us to:
- Abstain from meat on all Fridays of Lent, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (for Catholics above the age of 14)
- Practice intentional fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday which means only eating one full meatless meal and (if needed) two smaller meatless meals which together do not equal a full meal. This fasting is compulsory for all Catholics between the ages of 18-59 except for pregnant women, those with medical conditions such as diabetes, and those engaged in manual labor. The Church also invites us to consider observing a fast on Holy Saturday up until the conclusion of the Easter Vigil.
SIGNATURE EVENTS
(scroll down for Weekly Events)
Meditate on the life and death of Jesus with our AMDG and Lake Shore community.
Madonna della Strada Chapel will be holding Eucharistic Adoration from the conclusion of the 9:00 p.m. Mass on Sunday, February 18 until 9:00 p.m. on Monday, February 19. We accompany Jesus into the desert on this First Sunday of Lent and spend some time in prayer and introspection as we begin our Lenten journey. Confessions will be available on Monday evening at 8:00 p.m. and provide an ideal moment to confess our faults to God at the beginning of Lent so that we can encounter Jesus more readily. Adoration concludes at 9:00 p.m. on Monday with a solemn celebration of the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
Come focus on your own individual writing projects - whatever they may be (writing, editing, grading, planning, proposing, napping, reading, dreaming) - but in the context of Loyola's mission and community. While most of the time will be free and private, the group will come together each morning for a brief contemplative practice and each evening for some reflection and sharing on our vocation as educators and scholars. Each participant will have a private room and bathroom, meals and refreshments. Retreat will be held at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House, Barrington, IL. To register, please click on this link: Mission & Identity - Retreats (luc.edu). Questions, please email Lauren Schwer, lschwer@luc.edu.
Meditate on the life and death of Jesus with our AMDG and Lake Shore community.
Meditate on the life and death of Jesus with our AMDG and Lake Shore community.
WEEKLY EVENTS
For the complete list of Sunday liturgies at the chapel, click here.
Participate in this reflective, spoken celebration of the Eucharist during Lent.
Join other students for this weekly celebration of the Eucharist.
SIGNATURE EVENTS
Ash Wednesday (February 14)
Both liturgies include the distribution of ashes:
11:30 a.m. Mass in St. James Chapel (Quigley Center, corner of Pearson & Rush)
5:30 p.m. Mass in Kasbeer Hall (15th floor of Corboy Law Center)
February 15-April 4: Loyola Employees’ Busy Person Retreat, Throughout Lent, On Campus
The Busy Person retreat is open to all Loyola University employees during the season of Lent. Participants commit to weekly prayer and weekly spiritual direction. Mission Integration will provide prayer resources and spiritual direction introductions. Register by February 19, using this Busy Person Retreat Registration. For more information, please email Lauren Schwer, lschwer@luc.edu.
February 23: Staying Best Friends (for graduate students), 6:00-7:30 p.m., LU's Deli & Pub in the Terry Student Center
Join Fr. Jerry to reflect on how three couples have experienced the stresses of graduate and professional studies on their relationship and strategies they took to address these challenges. Open to all graduate and professional students.
March 4-6: Faculty Writing Retreat
Come focus on your own individual writing projects - whatever they may be (writing, editing, grading, planning, proposing, napping, reading, dreaming) - but in the context of Loyola's mission and community. While most of the time will be free and private, the group will come together each morning for a brief contemplative practice and each evening for some reflection and sharing on our vocation as educators and scholars. Each participant will have a private room and bathroom, meals and refreshments. Retreat will be held at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House, Barrington, IL. To register, please click on this link: Mission & Identity - Retreats (luc.edu). Questions, please email Lauren Schwer, lschwer@luc.edu.
WEEKLY EVENTS
Join others in this weekly celebration of the Eucharist.
Join Fr. Jerry for coffee and conversation.
Join Fr. Jerry for wine, wit and wisdom.
Join others in this weekly celebration of the Eucharist.
Join Fr. Jerry for coffee and conversation.
Join Fr. Jerry for coffee and conversation.
Join Fr. Jerry for wine, wit and wisdom.
SIGNATURE EVENTS
Laundry soap, baby wipes, sanitary napkins/pads, diapers (size 6), pull-ups (size 4t-5t) for Chicago Catholic Charities Women's Shelter, coordinated by Dermatology Interest Group. Drop off in HSC Ministry (Cuneo 270) until February 21.
Come focus on your own individual writing projects - whatever they may be (writing, editing, grading, planning, proposing, napping, reading, dreaming) - but in the context of Loyola's mission and community. While most of the time will be free and private, the group will come together each morning for a brief contemplative practice and each evening for some reflection and sharing on our vocation as educators and scholars. Each participant will have a private room and bathroom, meals and refreshments. Retreat will be held at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House, Barrington, IL. To register, please click on this link: Mission & Identity - Retreats (luc.edu). Questions, please email Lauren Schwer, lschwer@luc.edu.