Lent Resources
Encounters of Grace
God, Others, and Creation
For the billions of people around the world who observe Lent through fasting, prayer, and almsgiving for 40 days which are often the chosen practices. But why? What is the purpose of such practices during Lent?
The Catholic Church teaches that our Lenten practice should draw us into a deeper relationship with God. It is a dedicated and purposeful time, where we are called to evaluate not only our relationship with God, but also how we are living witnesses of God’s love toward others. They are 40 days of an encounter with God – who came to earth, lived as a humble simple human, suffered, died, and then rose from the dead.
This does not mean, however, that after 40 days we return to “business as usual” in our lives. The end of those 40 days should mark a new beginning: a renewed and deeper relationship with God where we are imbued with a heightened sense of God’s love and grace, which we make manifest in our daily lives.
In the Christian tradition, grace is defined as a freely given and undeserving gift from the Divine (God) and active participation in God’s full divine nature. So – from the Christian perspective – when we read about, listen to, or have our own encounter of grace, it is a moment of sacred presence.
This Lent, we are invited into this sacred presence - to have our eyes, ears, and hands open to receiving God’s grace. Perhaps it is through prayer, fasting, or almsgiving. Perhaps it is through having a meaningful conversation with someone, taking in the sunset at the end of a hike, or in selfless service to another person.
This Lenten–Easter season, let us welcome God’s grace into our hearts, so that we may be bearers of that gift of grace for others.
What is Lent?
The Tradition of Lent
Many, mostly Christians, around the world, take time to celebrate 40 days of the religious season we call Lent. In the Roman Catholic tradition, Lent is a reminder of and journey to our Baptism. Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and continues for 40 days (excluding Sundays), ending with the celebration of Easter.
Easter is the climax of the Christian belief: the suffering, death, and ultimately the resurrection of Christ Jesus. The 40 days before Easter are to prepare our hearts for the resurrection in which we too arise in Christ, highlighted in the Sacrament of Baptism. Without these 40 days, Easter becomes another “bump in the road.” We can never lose sight of the resurrection of Christ during Lent. At the same time, we never lose sight of the suffering and death of Christ during Easter.
Lent is a time of repentance, reflection, and renewal. We are invited to be evermore intentional with our time and take the opportunity to pray, reflect, self-examine, and discern where and who God is calling us to be.
Lent is traditionally celebrated with three practices: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Each of these three practices, and any other practices we may partake in during the season, encourages us to deepen our understanding of and relationship with the human condition, creation, and God.
As we journey through this Lenten–Easter season in community, how is your Lenten commitment helping you "Encounter Grace?"
Prayer
Prayer is easily described as the form in which we communicate with the Divine. For some, having a prayer routine during Lent looks like setting some special time for “formal prayers” that directly invoke God and oftentimes have a set way of being prayed. Others find unique ways to pray which are meaningful to their form of communicating with God. Either form of prayer can be done in private or in community. Scripture inspires us, however we choose to pray, to pray from the depths of our hearts with great intention and from a place of vulnerability (Mark 6: 5–8). Our Lasallian tradition reminds us that God is present everywhere AND in all those we encounter.
Fasting
During the Lenten season, many focus only on giving up something like sweets, social media, or something that makes them comfortable. Yet, the goal and intention of fasting is to give up something that has taken prominence in your life that is not fruitful to your relationship with God. Lent is a start to a fast that is ongoing because it causes us to have a change of heart and connects us deeper to God. As Lasallians, if you remember the living presence of God in all those we encounter, what would you give up?
Almsgiving
In the practice of almsgiving, many either give money to charity or volunteer their time at soup kitchens. Scripture challenges us to give of ourselves. A challenge that is not easy for any one person to do. We also hear in the Gospel that when we give alms, we should not be boastful. In the act of giving alms, we are in service to the poor. Our Lasallian tradition was founded on service to the poor and those on the peripheries of society. Lasallian service has us walking WITH those we encounter on the peripheries, never forgetting their dignity, and giving them the respect they deserve as humans and children of God. Above all, we are to celebrate our differences and learn the greatness of God through creation.
Campus Resources
Reflection Journal
The Reflection Journal consists of reflections written by members of our SMC Community, based on the Lenten question "Where do you encounter grace?" and the Gospel readings for Ash Wednesday, each Sunday during the season, Palm Sunday, and Easter. There is a space and opportunity for you to do your own reflecting in the journal. Available digitally here and printed copies in the Mission and Ministry Center (after Ash Wednesday).
Spring Retreat | Unwritten
March 20 to March 22, 2026
Take a break from daily life to explore what brings you joy, reflect on where your passions meet the world’s needs, and connect with others asking the same questions.
Location: St. Joseph's Camp | Duncans Mills, CA
Retreat Fee: $45 (cost should NOT prevent you from going on retreat)
In God’s Presence: Preparing Our Hearts
Remember Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection through spiritual practices such as: reconciliation, prayer stations, and quiet reflection.
March 23, 2026, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm | SMC Chapel
Weekly Offerings
Rooted in Faith
Inspired by our Lenten question "Where do you encounter grace," join us as we take a deep into sharing our journeys of a faith and how God’s presence is revealed to us.
Location Mission and Ministry Center Lounge | 7 p.m.
Feb. 25 | Mar. 4 | Mar. 11 | Mar 18
Daily Mass
Daily Mass is an excellent opportunity for you to “encounter God” in the work of Jesus Christ to save us. This Lenten Season, we invite you to spend 25-30 minutes of your busy time and join us at Mass: Mondays through Thursday, from 12:10pm to 12:40pm in the Side Chapel.
Reconciliation: Celebrate God's Forgiveness
If you wish to make your confession by celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we provide this opportunity in the Side Chapel on every Sunday from 7pm to 7:30pm. Alternatively, you may email Fr. Kwame at bka3stmarys-ca.edu to make an appointment outside Sunday.
Contact for More
Eddie Ventura –– Asst. Director, Liturgy and Faith Formation (edv1@stmarys-ca.edu)