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Preparations for Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 10, are under way across the archdiocese. Programs and other observances include the following:
Manhattan
A Lenten Vespers series will be celebrated from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in St. Mary of the Angels Chapel at Holy Name of Jesus Church, 207 W. 96th St., for five consecutive Tuesdays: Feb. 16 and 23; March 1, 8 and 15. The theme for the series, which includes vespers, a simple supper and reflection, is “Mercy: the Key to Living as Christians.” A reconciliation service, with the opportunity for individual confession, follows the March 15 reflection.
Westchester County
A “Jubilee Year of Mercy Life in the Spirit” seminar will be held Tuesday nights during Lent at St. Paul the Apostle Church Hall, 602 McLean Ave., Yonkers. The program is from 7:45 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 16 and 23, and March 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29.
A Lenten luncheon series, “In This Year of Mercy, Nurture and Heal Relationships,” will be offered in February and March at Mariandale Retreat and Conference Center, 299 North Highland Ave., Ossining. The program begins with prayer, followed by a simple lunch of pasta, bread, salad, dessert and beverage, and concludes with the presentation. Topics for the five-part Wednesday series are Feb. 17, “Love of Neighbor: Self-Forgiveness”; Feb. 24, “Almsgiving to ‘All Our Relations’”; March 2, “Shadow Dancing and the Tailor’s Bin”; March 9, “Mercy Toward Ourselves”; and March 16, “Our Personal Call to Mercy.” Schedule is 11:30 a.m. check-in; 11:45 a.m., midday prayer in chapel; lunch at noon in the River Room; and presentation at 12:45 p.m. Cost: $25 per session, or $100 for the series, includes lunch. Information: www.mariandale.org. or (914) 941-4455, Ext. 0.
A Lenten Evening of Prayer and Sacred Music will be offered at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 3, at St. Joseph’s Church, 95 Plum Brook Road in Somers. Presented by St. Joseph’s Music Ministries, the gathering includes prayerful music of the Taizé community, psalms, contemporary hymn arrangements and Scripture readings. Father John M. Lagiovane, pastor of St. Joseph’s, will provide Lenten reflections.
Staten Island
A series of lectures and performances will be presented in February and March at 7:30 p.m. at St. Rita’s Church, 281 Bradley Ave.
• Thursday, Feb. 11: Celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of the Sick, with Eucharistic Exposition, praying Rosary in various languages, the sacrament of the anointing of the sick, Benediction, veneration of a relic of St. Bernadette and, weather permitting, a candlelight procession to a grotto on Westwood Avenue.
• Friday, Feb. 19: A presentation about SS. Louis and Marie Zelie Guerin Martin, parents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, followed by exposition of relics of the three.
• Friday, Feb. 26: A presentation about St. Francis and St. Clare, followed by exposition of their relics.
Check the parish website, stritachurch.net, for March programs.
