The 2023 Lenten season began on
Ash Wednesday (February 22) and ends on
Holy Thursday (April 6) 

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What are you doing for Lent?

During Lent, we are asked to devote ourselves to seeking the Lord in PRAYER, to service by giving ALMS, and to sacrifice self-control through FASTING. Many know of the tradition of abstaining from meat on Friday during Lent, but we are also called to practice self-discipline and fast in other ways throughout the season. Contemplate the meaning and origins of the Lenten fasting tradition. In addition, the giving of alms is one way to share God’s gifts–not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time and talents. As St. John Chrysostom reminds us: “Not only to enable the poor in our goods is to to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2446).

For Lent, the Church gives us a slogan—Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving—as the three things we need to work on during the season. We have some activities at our parish and provide links to resources that may provide you assistance during this Lenten season:

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IT’S A TIME OF PRAYER. Lent is essentially an act of prayer spread out over 40 days. As we pray, we go on a journey, one that hopefully brings us closer to Christ and leaves us changed by the encounter with him. Here are some suggestions to assist with prayer and devotions over the Lenten season:

• Spend some TIME each DAY in PRAYER.  There are resources available for daily reflections at USCCB.org, EWTN.org, or Catholic Apostolate Center.  Our sanctuary is also open every day from 8am-8pm for you to come and have private prayer.
• Attend DAILY MASS during Lent. Our parish celebrates Mass daily at 7:00am in the main sanctuary and 8:00am on Saturdays.
• Attend a EUCHARISTIC HOLY HOUR offered every Friday from 6-7pm in our Church. Come and spend an hour in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in reflection and prayer.  If you have never done this before, it’s a beautiful opportunity to sit quietly in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and pray or read the bible or just speak to Jesus in quiet reflection. Confessions are also heard during the Holy Hour.
• Attend the STATIONS OF THE CROSS offered every Friday at 7pm in our Church. The Stations of the Cross began as the practice of pious pilgrims to Jerusalem who would retrace the final journey of Jesus Christ to Calvary. Later, for the many who wanted to pass along the same route, but could not make the trip to Jerusalem, a practice developed that eventually took the form of the fourteen stations currently found in almost every church. Come and experience the journey with other parishioners.
• Join Msgr. Pope for a virtual LENTEN BIBLE STUDY every Wednesday at 7:15pm via Zoom. To attend, you will need to create a login at FlockNote (our church’s email communication tool) at https://hcscchurch.flocknote.com/ and then sign-up for the Wednesday Adult Bible Study  to receive the weekly Zoom link. If you already have a login then you only need to make sure you have signed up for the Wednesday Bible Study. The theme for this Lenten bible study is “Learning in Lent” and will focus on some of the more common Catholic teachings that are considered controversial in today’s society. For details on the topics to be discussed and audio recordings of each session, click here:    Lenten Bible Study
• Attend the YOUNG ADULT BIBLE STUDY every Monday in person at 7:30pm in the rectory basement. The bible study theme during Lent will also be “Learning in Lent”.
  

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IT’S A TIME OF FASTING AND TO WORK ON DISCIPLINE.  With the fasts on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, meatless Fridays, and our personal disciplines interspersed, Lent is the only time many Catholics these days actually fast. And maybe that’s why it gets all the attention.  Fasting is actually a form of penance, which helps us turn away from sin and toward Christ. For members of the Roman Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. 

The 40 days of Lent are also a good time to work on personal discipline in general. Instead of giving something up, it can be doing something positive. “I’m going to exercise more. I’m going to pray more. I’m going to be nicer to my family, friends and coworkers.”  Reflect on how you want to fast or work on discipline.

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IT’S A TIME FOR ALMSGIVING.  The foundational call of Christians to charity is a frequent theme of the Gospels.  During Lent, we are asked to focus more intently on “almsgiving,” which means donating money or goods to the poor and performing other acts of charity.  As one of the three pillars of Lenten practice, almsgiving is “a witness to fraternal charity” and  “a work of justice pleasing to God.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2462).  Here are some suggestions for charitable giving this Lent:

• Participate in the LENTEN CANNED FOOD DRIVE. Click here for details: Lenten Food Drive flyer
• Donate to the POOR BOXES located on the walls of the Church near the exits. The funds from these donations help provide food for our food pantry and other emergency assistance requests.
• Contact Catholic Charities DC for more opportunities to assist those in need.
  

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  Lastly, during Lent it is a good practice to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance) and ask for God’s mercy and grace as you begin your journey.  Confessions are heard 1/2 hour before each Mass on the weekends (excepty Saturday 8am Mass) and each Friday during the Holy Hour from 6-7pm, and by request (call the rectory office to see if clergy is available).

Lent is a time of renewal and conversion, a time to grow in our faith. But the teachings of our faith are under attack as never before and Catholics can too easily become doubtful and cynical about biblical and Catholic teachings on many critical moral topics related to life, marriage, family and sexuality. Consider a fast from all the criticism and give the gift of your time to hear what the Church actually teaches and why.

Our Lenten Bible study will focus on areas of Church teachings that have become controversial over the past decades. We will look to their biblical origins and explain why they remain true for us today and how they make sense.

HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?

We will meet via Zoom (online) each Wednesday of Lent at 7:15pm. If you have not done so, please subscribe to FlockNotes at hcscchurch.flocknote.com and select the Wednesday Bible Study to receive the weekly Zoom link to each session in your email. If you have questions on how to link to the bible study via Zoom, contact the rectory office at 202-546-1885 or hcscstaff@hcscchurch.org.

We will meet via Zoom (online) each Wednesday of Lent at 7:15pm and cover the topics below. If you have not done so, please subscribe to FlockNotes at hcscchurch.flocknote.com and select the Wednesday Bible Study to receive the weekly Zoom link to each session. If you have questions on how to link to the bible study via Zoom, contact the rectory office at 202-546-1885 or kpeaks@hcscchurch.org
NOTE: If you would like to participate via your phone or do not have access to email, call the rectory office at 202-546-1885 NO LATER THAN 4PM for the phone access number.

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION

March 1^st – FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPALS
Why does the Church care what people do?
The Cross – The way of the Truth is not always easy
The Nature of the Church – A thermostat not a thermometer
Stay Put-Stay Catholic – How politics changes, but the Church teachings stay the same

March 8^th – MARRIAGE AND SEXUAL IDENTITY ISSUES
Is the Church Anti-LGBTQ?
Why does the Church not accept Gay Marriage?
What does the Church offer LBGTQ Catholics?
Why does the Church teach against transgenderism?

March 15^th – LIFE ISSUES 1
Abortion
Contraception

March 22^nd – LIFE ISSUES 2
Physician Assisted Suicide
Capital Punishment

March 29^th – VOCATIONAL ISSUES
Why no women priests?
Why do scriptures say that the husband is the head of his wife and family?
Why no divorce and remarriage?
Denial of Communion?

WHAT IF I  MISS A BIBLE STUDY? HOW CAN I HEAR THE AUDIO?

The bible studies are recorded and the audio versions will be made available online after each session. Click on the link or scan the QR code to listen.

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LEARNING IN LENT – Session # 1 – Intro/Foundational Principals:

Click here for link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2kl7kgvez0b983r/Catholic%20Controversies%20Class%201%20March%20%201.mp3?dl=0

Or, scan the QR code:

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LEARNING IN LENT – Session #2 – Marriage and Sexual Identity Issues:

Click here for link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ek8cv9ffeptv3dp/Catholic%20COntroversies%202.mp3?dl=0

Or, scan the QR code::

Join with our parish this Lenten season to restock our churches food pantry in a
CANNED FOOD DRIVE from February 22 – April 9.

You can drop off the food at the church during Mass times or the rectory office during office hours. Or, you can order food from a local store or online (Amazon, Target, Walmart, etc.) for delivery to:

Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian Church
1357 E. Capitol Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
ATTN: Kim Peaks
202-546-1885

NOTE: Please have local grocery store orders delivered when the office is open: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 11am-5pm.

PLEASE DONATE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

• Canned proteins (tuna, salmon, chicken, sardines)
• Canned vegetables (green beans, corn, mixed)
• Breakfast cereal
• Oatmeal and grits
• Pancake mix and syrup
• Canned chunky soups and stews
• Canned pasta (Spaghettios and Ravioli)
• Canned fruit
• Spaghetti sauce (canned or plastic bottle)
• Spaghetti
• Canned diced tomatoes

Monetary donations are also accepted. You can drop your donation (cash or check payable to HCSC) in the collection basket or electronically through Faith Direct (donate to Lenten Food Drive). NOTE: Please note that your donation is for the Food Drive on your check or envelope with cash. You can also mail your check to the address above or drop off at the rectory.

Questions? contact the rectory office at 202-546-1885 or hcscstaff@hcscchurch.org. Thank you for your generosity!!

Every Friday, our parish holds a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration in the Church. 

This is a devotional tradition of spending an hour in Eucharistic adoration in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Adoration is a sign of devotion to and worship of Jesus Christ, who we believe to be present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, under the appearance of the consecrated host. As a devotion, Eucharistic adoration and meditation are more than merely looking at the Blessed Host, but are believed to be a continuation of what was celebrated in the Eucharist.

The inspiration for the Holy Hour is Matthew 26:40. In the Gospel of Matthew, during the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before his crucifixion, Jesus spoke to his disciples, saying “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.” (Matthew 26:38) Returning to the disciples after prayer, he found them asleep and in Matthew 26:40 he asked Peter:

“So, could you men not keep watch with me for an hour?”.

All are welcome to come and spend time with the Lord in prayer. Bring your bible or other devotional prayers if you like.

A priest is available during the Holy Hour to hear confessions.

Resources: 12 Reasons to spend a holy hour in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament (Catholic News Agency)

• Are you or a family member or friend interested in becoming Catholic?
• Did you or a family member or friend miss receiving the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation or Holy Communion?
• Are you searching for a greater knowledge and appreciation of your Catholic faith?
• Are you a returning Catholic who has been away from the church and would like to re-establish your knowledge of the faith?

Then, you should consider attending our adult faith formation classes (also called RCIA which stand for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) which will begin in the Fall!

Our parish offers these weekly classes on the fundamental teachings of the Catholic faith on Sunday’s at 9:30am in the rectory beginning September 25th. These classes are especially designed for non-Catholics who are considering becoming Catholic. But, they are also a wonderful opportunity for adult Catholics who have missed receiving one of the sacraments or who may be returning to the Church after a long absence. These classes are also open to adult Catholics who are looking for a way to enrich their faith.

If you are interested, or you know of someone who is, contact us at rciahcsc@gmail.com or call the rectory office at 202-546-1885. Let us know if you have questions or are not certain how this will work for you. There is no commitment for seeking information. We are available to help you in your journey.

(We highly suggest that ALL children of the parish who are not in Catholic school should be enrolled in a religious education class)

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We are pleased and excited to offer to you our Catholic education catechism classes from
9:30-10:45am every Sunday, except summer months, at the school building (15^th & East Capitol Sts, SE) for youth in pre-K through 12^th grade. Youth who are preparing to receive the sacraments (First Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation) are required to attend Sunday school in preparation for these important milestones in their spiritual journey as a Catholic. Although Sunday school began on Sept. 25th, you can still register your youth. 

Your child’s safety is important to us and we will take safety precautions into consideration. Masks are optional for our Sunday school but feel free to send your youth with a mask if you feel comfortable. Everyone will be notified if a positive Covid-19 case is reported in the classroom. We will provide hand sanitizer, masks (upon request) and practice safety protocols.

If you are interested, complete the FILLABLE registration form below, print or save a copy and drop off at the rectory office; email to mre@hcscchurch.org, or mail to the church address (ATTN: Shirley Austin) on our home page. NOTE: Families that have completed a registration form in the past two years DO NOT have to complete another one. We will contact you over the next week to verify your current information.

We also invite you to participate in our Adult Sunday School Program that is led by our clergy and catechists. We had great participation in the past and want to continue this year so that our parents can learn about their faith along with their children. The Adult Sunday School Program is held the same time as your child’s class so it is convenient for everyone.  

Our Sunday school teachers are outstanding in their support and dedication in answering God’s call to serve the people of God, especially our children. We look forward to another year of great things here at HCSC. Thank you to the parents who supply nourishment for our families and we invite all our parents to assist with this very important part of the overall success of our Sunday school. Like Christ, we must not only feed the soul we must also feed the body. Let us know if you are able to assist with the food and coffee service during Sunday school.

If you have questions regarding our Sunday school program, contact Shirley Austin at 202-368-7231 or mre@hcscchurch.org.   

Shirley Austin
Minister of Religious Education
Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Catholic Church
202-546-1885 ◊  mre@hcscchurch.org. 

Click here for FILLABLE Sunday School Registration Form for 2022_23