Lent

Each day on our Website during Lent, you can:

participate in a Lenten Radio retreat
read Scripture readings for each day
view a virtual Stations of the Cross
read the Lenten guidelines for fasting and abstinence and find meatless recipes to help you plan your meals
discover how your participation in CRS Rice Bowl benefits the poor all over the world and learn more about these people and places through virtual tours and videos

You will also find guides and suggestions for personal reflection and suggestions for enriching your relationships with the Lord and with others. We hope you will visit catholicnh.org each day during the 40 days of Lent and that your visits will bring deeper meaning and discovery to your life as a disciple of the Lord.

During this Lenten season, whether you were baptized Catholic as an infant, a child or you are now deciding to look into what the Catholic Church is about, we are glad you are here. We invite you to join us in worship, prayer, and fellowship at one of our 90 parishes in New Hampshire. Wherever you are in your faith journey, please visit our Catholics Come Home® page to help you discover—or re-discover—the Catholic faith.

Mark Your Calendar

Holy Week 2013 Schedule at St. Jospeh Cathedral
Chrism Mass - March 26, 2013, 6 p.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral
Easter Vigil – March 30, 2013 - The entire celebration of this vigil should take place at night, that is, it should begin after nightfall and end before the dawn of Sunday. This rule is to be taken according to its strictest sense. In the Diocese of Manchester the Easter Vigil should not be scheduled before 7:30 p.m. Sunset for this date is anticipated to be at 7:10 p.m.
Easter Sunday - March 31, 2013
Lenten Mission - Spiritual Works of Mercy - St. Joseph Cathedral

Prayer

Read the Holy Father's Lenten Message
Reflect with the Pope during Lent in daily tweets
Daily Prayers and Reflections for Each Day During Lent (USCCB)
Brief Prayers for Each Day During Lent (Creighton University)
Virtual Stations of the Cross
Lenten Radio Retreats:
- Week 1
  Sunday, February 17, 2013
  Bishop R. Daniel Conlon, Diocese of Joliet
- Week 2
  Sunday, February 24, 2013
  Bishop Francisco González, S.F., auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington
- Week 3
  Sunday, March 3, 2013
  Bishop William Michael Mulvey, Diocese of Corpus Christi
- Week 4
  Sunday, March 10, 2013
  Bishop John G. Noonan, Diocese of Orlando
- Week 5
  Sunday, March 17, 2013
  Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
- Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
  Sunday, March 24, 2013
  Bishop James A. Tamayo of the Diocese of Laredo

Fasting

Almsgiving

CRS Rice Bowl - Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl offers simple yet powerful ways for parishes, schools and families to bring our Catholic faith to life during the holy season of Lent!

Resources for Parishes

Lenten and Easter Liturgy Guidelines - With the new translation of the Roman Missal, there are some details not to miss.
During this Lent, the U.S. bishops are encouraging Catholics to make going to confession a significant part of their spiritual lives. They have issued a statement, "God's Gift of Forgiveness: The Pastoral Exhortation on the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation" that can be distributed and shared in parishes. Dioceses are encouraged to make the sacrament available often during Lent and to use these resources to promote participation.
USCCB Liturgical Resources for Lent
The Easter Proclamation (Exultet)

The Easter Proclamation may be made, in the absence of a Deacon, by the Priest himself or by another concelebrating Priest. If, however, because of necessity, a lay cantor sings the Proclamation, the words, “Therefore, dearest friends” up to the end of the invitation are omitted, along with the greeting “The Lord be with you.” CLICK HERE to listen to the Exultet F#.

Watch a Video of the Exultet F#