Return to the Lord and Be Ambassadors for Christ

Each Lent, a group of students, faculty and staff gather to pray and reflect on the Sunday readings of the season. We do this so that we can discover a common thread in all the Sunday celebrations rather than celebrating each Sunday in isolation. In this way we view the readings as a whole fabric, extracting a focus statement which ties them all together.

In the weeks before Ash Wednesday, a group of Edmundites, faculty, staff and students considered the readings of the Sundays of Lent and extracted the statement which appears on banners hanging outside on our campus Chapel above the main lobby entrance and facing route 15. We have also printed the focus statement on a bookmark which is readily available. For other devotional activities during Lent, please see our Lenten Brochure. Daily Lenten Reflections written by our students, faculty and staff, alumi and members of our worshipping community are also available both online and as printed booklets in the lobby of the Chapel.

This Lent our focus statement is "Return to the Lord and be ambassadors for Christ." I hope you will join us in this prayer as we prepare for the glorious celebration of Easter.

God bless you during this holy season of repentance and drawing closer to God!

Fr. Brian J. Cummings, S.S.E. '86
Director of Edmundite Campus Ministry

Lenten Mission 2013

Transformed in God, A Call to Generosity

Presented by the Very Rev. Richard O'Donnell

February 21, 2013 - 7:00 pm
Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel
Colchester, VT

During the season of Lent, we are called to be transformed in a deeper and closer relationship with God. When this relationship grows, we move to a greater sense of generosity, not only from God but in how we live our lives. Each person desires meaning, hope and purpose in their lives. Being transformed in God allows these desires to become realities.

The Very Rev. Richard O'Donnell is currently Pastor of St. Michael Church in Brattleboro. He also serves as Chaplain of the local Police and Fire Departments as well as the Professional Firefighters of Vermont. Fr. Rich works for Lifeteen, the largest Catholic youth ministry program in the world. He is also a nationally known speaker and gives numerous Parish Missions and Retreats throughout the year.

Prayer Opportunities During Lent

Morning Prayer
Monday-Friday, 7:40 AM, Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel

Divine Mercy Chaplet 
Fridays, February 22; March 1, 8 and 22, 3:00 PM, Back altar space of Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel

Eucharistic Adoration
Tuesdays, February 19 and 26; March 5, 19 and 26, 8:00–9:00 PM, Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel

Rosary for Peace
Mondays, February 18 and 25; March 4, 18 and 25, 5:00 PM, Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel
Hosted by Marc Massery '13

Evening prayer in the style of the community of Taizé

Thursday, February 28, 8:00 PM, Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel

Monday, March 25, 7:30 PM, St. Paul's Cathedral, 2 Cherry Street, Burlington, VT

Evening prayer is sung in the manner of the Taizé Community, an ecumenical monastic community in France. The community works ecumenically at furthering peace within the human family by engendering reconciliation and healing of divisions among Christians. The Brothers developed a style of prayer consisting of simple meditative chants as well as periods of silence. A candle-lit service lasting about an hour includes quiet chant from both within and outside the Taizé Community, readings from the scripture, sung and spoken prayer, incense, icons, and periods of meditative silence.

The Way of the Cross

Friday, March 22, 5:00 PM, Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel

Were you there in the crowd that Friday? As we pray the Stations of the Cross, please join us as we journey
with Jesus during His passion and experience what it might have been like through the eyes of those who
were there such as James, Judas, the Chief Priest, a soldier, Mary, Mary Magdala and others. This presentation of the Stations of the Cross was inspired by the scriptural way of the cross that was celebrated
in Rome by Pope John Paul II on Good Friday each year.

Masses During Lent

Monday, 4:30 PM, Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel

Tuesday - Friday, 11:30 AM, Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel

Sunday, 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM, Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel

No 7:00 PM Mass on March 10 due to student recess

Ash Wednesday
February 13, 11:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel
Please don't forget to pick up your Rice Bowl today!

Palm Sunday Mass 
March 24, 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM, Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel

Triduum Services

Holy Thursday
March 28, 7:00 PM Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel

Good Friday
March 29, 7:00 PM, Holy Family Church, Essex Junction

Holy Saturday
March 30, 7:00 PM, Saint Lawrence Church, Essex Junction

Easter Sunday
March 31, 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM, Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel
No 7:00 PM Mass

Guidelines for Lent

Download the Lenten Bookmark for 2013

The time of Lent is observed by Catholics as a special season of prayer, penance and works of charity.

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, in particular, are the most penitential days of the liturgical year. They are days of both fast and abstinence. All Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence.

The rule of fasting states that only one full meal a day can be taken. Two small meals, sufficient to maintain strength, are allowed, but together they should not equal another full meal. The rule of fasting obliges Catholics from age 18-59.

Abstinence refers to the eating of meat. The common estimation of the community is used to determine what falls under the category of meat. Selfimposed fasting on the other weekdays of Lent is recommended. Abstinence on all Fridays of the year is also highly recommended.

Daily Lenten Reflections

The students, faculty, staff, and members of the Saint Michael's College worshipping community have come together to offer their reflections on the daily Scripture readings and what they are saying to us in our lives today...how they challenge and encourage us to feel God's presence, love, and forgiveness each day during this sacred time. Each day of Lent, there will be a new reflection on the blog, based on the Scripture readings of the day, from Ash Wednesday through Easter. We encourage you to join us on a Lenten journey of reflecting and praying with us through the site.

We hope that these reflections are ones that inspire and help you grow deeper in your prayer life during the journey of Lent as we prepare for the Resurrection of Christ Jesus! May we be inspired to open our eyes and see God's deep, unconditional love present in our lives.

Read the Daily Lenten Reflections at http://smclent.blogspot.com.