• ASH WEDNESDAY — Feb. 22
Collegeville • Join St. John’s Monastic Community for an Ash Wednesday Mass with the distribution of ashes at 5 p.m. in the Abbey Church with Abbot John Klassen presiding.
St. Cloud • Ash Wednesday Masses at 7 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral.
St. Joseph • Join the Benedictine Sisters and the College of St. Benedict campus ministry for the Eucharist and distribution of ashes at 5 p.m. in Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Benedict’s Monastery.
• RECONCILIATION AND STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Fridays — Feb. 24, March 3, 10, 17, 24
St. Cloud • Reconciliation at 4:30 p.m. followed by Stations of the Cross at 5:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Friday, March 31
St. Cloud • Reconciliation at 4:30 p.m. Via Crucis (The Way of the Cross) at 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral.
• SUNDAY LITURGIES
Sundays — Feb. 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26 and April 2
Collegeville • Join the St. John’s Monastic Community for the Lenten Eucharist at 10:30 a.m. in the Abbey Church. (All Masses are livestreamed at saintjohnsabbey.org and are also archived on YouTube under the title “Saint John’s Abbey.”)
Little Falls • Join the Franciscan sisters for the Lenten liturgy at 9:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Francis Convent. (Also livestreamed: search YouTube for “Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, MN.”)
Onamia • Join the Crosier Community for Solemn Lenten Vespers at 5 p.m. at Holy Cross Priory Church.
St. Cloud • Lenten Eucharist celebrated at 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral. (Saturday Masses celebrated at 5 p.m.)
St. Joseph • Join the Benedictine sisters for the Lenten Eucharist at 10.30 a.m. in Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Benedict’s Monastery.
• LENTEN HEALING MASS
Sunday, March 19
Onamia • The Crosier Fathers and Brothers invite all to a Lenten Healing Mass at the National Shrine of St. Odilia at 9 a.m. Mass includes the anointing of the sick and the ritual blessing with the relic of St. Odilia. Coffee and rolls are served in Holy Cross Center following Mass.
• LENTEN RETREATS AND COURSES
Wednesday, Feb. 22
St. Joseph • Spirituality Center at St. Benedict’s Monastery hosts an Ash Wednesday retreat titled “With the Eyes of Your Heart Enlightened” from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Led by Benedictine Sister Pat Kennedy, participants will explore the prayer-art of icon writing as an intersection of theology, spirituality and liturgy. Fee is $50. Register at https://bit.ly/3FO0SBB or call 320-363-7112.
Thursday, Feb. 23
St. Joseph • The Spirituality Center at St. Benedict’s Monastery hosts “Sacred Pause Lenten Prayer” from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. starting today and continuing March 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30. Led by Benedictine Sisters Mary Catherine Holicky and Eunice Antony, participants will gather to share the common prayer of “lectio divina” (prayerful reading) using the Gospels of the Sundays of Lent. Prayer is followed by a shared meal and fellowship. Additionally, meeting with a sister spiritual companion for 30 minutes each week of Lent is optional. Fee is $90. (Limited to 8 participants.) Register at https://bit.ly/3FNH5T1 or call 320-363-7112.
Saturday, Feb. 25
Little Falls • The Franciscan sisters host a “Lenten Day of Reflection” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Francis Convent. This in-person retreat, presented by Franciscan Associate Katherine Giorgio with the theme “Letting Go and Letting In,” is also available via Zoom. For more information or to register for in-person for the event by Feb. 17, email Christi Hartwell at chartwell@fslf.org or call 320-632-0680. There is no cost for the event, but donations are welcome. (Register by Wednesday, Feb. 22, to receive the Zoom link.)
Sundays — Feb. 26, March 5, 12, 19
Milaca • Frederick Blonigen presents a four-week Lenten series titled “The Most Holy Eucharist: The Mystery of God’s Incomprehensible Love” from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at St. Mary Church.
Wednesday, March 1
St. Joseph • The Spirituality Center at St. Benedict’s Monastery hosts “Virtual Lent in a Bag” from 9 to 11 a.m. starting today and continuing March 8 and 15. Led by Benedictine Oblate Pat Pickett, participants will receive a brown bag in the mail that contains six objects. Each object will bring deeper insights into the meaning and living of Lent and a joyful Easter and will be the basis for discussion. Videos, music and a time for writing are also included. Fee is $75. (Limited to 20 participants who will need access to a device with Zoom capability.) Register at https://bit.ly/3FPG3pr or call 320-363-7112. (Registration is due Feb. 10 to allow adequate time for bags to be mailed prior to the first session.)
St. Joseph • The Spirituality Center at St. Benedict’s Monastery hosts “Virtual Sacred Pause Lenten Prayer” from 11:30 a.m. to noon starting today and continuing March 8, 15, 22, 29, April 5. Led by Benedictine Sisters Mary Catherine Holicky and Eunice Antony, participants will gather to share the common prayer of “lectio divina” (prayerful reading) using the Gospels of the Sundays of Lent. Meeting with a sister spiritual companion for 30 minutes each week of Lent is optional. Fee is $60. (Limited to 6 participants who will need access to a device with Zoom capability.) Register at https://bit.ly/3Wldt6o or call 320-363-7112.
Friday, March 3
St. Joseph • The Spirituality Center at St. Benedict’s Monastery hosts a Lenten Intensive Centering Prayer Retreat starting today at 7 p.m. and continuing through 1 p.m. Sunday, March 5. Facilitated by Benedictine Sister Hélène Mercier, this is an all-silent retreat with multiple periods of centering prayer and one teaching session each day. An optional group reflection time is provided. The fee is $250, which includes meals and overnight accommodations. Limited to 10 participants. Register at https://bit.ly/3WmoCnC or call 320-363-7112.
Saturday, March 11
Glenwood • The Christian Mothers of Sacred Heart Parish host a free Lenten Morning of Reflection from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. with guest speaker Dr. George Jay reflecting on his conversion. (Dr. Jay and his wife Joan were recipients of the diocese’s 2017 Humanae Vitae Award.) No registration is needed. Refreshments will be provided before and during the morning retreat and a lunch opportunity is available. For more information, call the church at 320-634-3813 or email sheartchurch@gmail.com.
Saturday, March 18
St. Cloud • The St. Cloud DCCW Council sponsors a Women’s Lenten Retreat at St. Paul Parish starting at 8:30 a.m. with registration and refreshments. The event includes keynote speaker Dana Webskowski, Mass, lunch and musical adoration. The cost is $20 by March 10. For more information, contact Lora at 320-393-2701 or lorakna1@hotmail.com.
• SACRED PERFORMANCES
‘Journey With Jesus to Calvary’
Wednesday, March 29; Friday, March 31; Saturday, April 1; Sunday, April 2
St. Francis • “Journey With Jesus to Calvary” will be presented four times at St. Francis of Assisi Church — at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 29; 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 31 and April 1; and at 1 p.m. on Palm Sunday, April 2. There is no admission cost but a free will offering will be collected. The church is located 10 miles north of Albany on State Highway 238. For more information, contact Bob Theisen at 320-573-2933.