During Lent, we want to stop and prepare our hearts for a penitential time of fasting, alms-giving, and prayer. Lent does not have to be just a time of personal ...

by Monica McConkey | As Catholics, we enjoy our own special calendar, celebrating the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter as well as a significant number of weeks of Ordinary Time. It’s a shame really, that it’s called ordinary, because it’s still filled with plenty of Feast Days and celebrations that are quite extraordinary!

by Monica McConkey | Forty days is a long time! Although our Lenten program pales in comparison to Jesus’ sojourn in the desert, we recognize the struggles of our sacrifices and resolutions and how difficult they can be to maintain for forty whole days.

by Monica McConkey | Lent is a great opportunity to refocus our efforts to draw closer to Jesus. Although we can certainly give up a few of our favorite things, we can also add extra prayers and sacrifices. It’s easy to lose focus or momentum throughout the 40 days of Lent. We can get discouraged when we falter or fail our Lenten promises. Sometimes a tangible way of tracking our progress can motivate us to stay on track or even return to it!