Lent Reflections Archive

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2023

Lent: Journey with Jesus to the Cross

2021 / 2022

Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17

Week 1 – Feb. 21-27

Week 2 –  Feb. 28-March 6

Week 3 – March 7-13

Week 4 – March 14-20

Week 5 – March 21-27

Palm Sunday and Brief Reflections for Holy Week –  March 28-April 3

Easter Triduum
Holy Thursday, April 1 | Good Friday, April 2 | Holy Saturday, April 3

Easter Sunday – April 4

2020

These reflections were for the 2020 season of Lent:

For use beginning with Ash Wednesday, Feb. 26

For use the First Week of Lent, starting on Sunday, March 1:

For use the Second Week of Lent, starting on Sunday, March 8:

For use the Third Week of Lent on starting on Sunday, March 15:

For use the Fourth Week of Lent, starting on Sunday, March 22:

For use the Fifth Week of Lent, starting on Sunday, March 29:

For use during Holy Week, starting on Palm Sunday, April 5:

For use for the Easter Triduum, Maundy Thursday, April 9, through Holy Saturday, April 11:

For use on Easter, Sunday, April 12, and in the week that follows:

2019

These reflections were for the 2019 season of Lent:

For use beginning with Ash Wednesday, March 6, 2019

For use the First Week of Lent, starting on Sunday, March 10:

For use the Second Week of Lent, starting on Sunday, March 17:

For use the Third Week of Lent on starting on Sunday, March 24:

For use the Fourth Week of Lent, starting on Sunday, March 31:

For use the Fifth Week of Lent, starting on Sunday, April 7:

For use during Holy Week, starting on Palm Sunday, April 14:

For use on Easter, Sunday, April 21, and in the week that follows:

2018

These reflections were for the 2018 season of Lent.

For use beginning with Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018

For use the First Week of Lent, starting on Sunday, February 18:

For use the Second Week of Lent, starting on Sunday, February 25:

For use the Third Week of Lent on starting on Sunday, March 4:

For use the Fourth Week of Lent, starting on Sunday, March 11:

For use the Fifth Week of Lent, starting on Sunday, March 18:

For use during Holy Week, starting on Palm Sunday, March 25:

For use on Easter, Sunday, April 1, and in the week that follows:

2017

These reflections were for the 2017 season of Lent. 

For the 2017 Lenten series, CHA collaborated with Sr. Renee Yann, RSM, D.Min., a Sister of Mercy of the Mid-Atlantic Community, who graciously authored each of the reflections. Retired after more than 50 years in education and health care, she now ministers through spiritual writing and consulting. She can be followed on Twitter @ReneeYann.

For use beginning with Ash Wednesday, March 1, 2017

  • A Reflection on Ash Wednesday (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 2:24)

For use the First Week of Lent, starting on Sunday, March 5:

  • A Reflection for the First Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 2:33)

For use the Second Week of Lent, starting on Sunday, March 12:

  • A Reflection for the Second Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 2:23)

For use the Third Week of Lent on starting on Sunday, March 19:

  • A Reflection for the Third Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 2:23)

For use the Fourth Week of Lent, starting on Sunday, March 26:

  • A Reflection for the Fourth Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 2:31)

For use the Fifth Week of Lent, starting on Sunday, April 2:

  • A Reflection for the Fifth Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 2:27)

For use during Holy Week, starting on Palm Sunday, April 9:

For use on Easter, Sunday, April 16, and in the week that follows:

2016

These reflections were for the 2016 season of Lent.

They were authored by Dennis Winschel, MA, who has always had a personal interest in the dynamics of spiritual growth and development. With a background in theology, spirituality and counseling, he has worked in for-profit and nonprofit sectors as a pastor, teacher, coach, counselor, trainer, manager, performance and organizational development consultant. He has worked locally and internationally in Australia, Africa, England and Hong Kong.

For use beginning with Ash Wednesday, through Feb. 20

  • A Reflection on Ash Wednesday and the First Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 2:21)

For use the Second Week of Lent, starting on Sunday, Feb. 21:

  • A Reflection for the Second Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 2:26)

For use the Third Week of Lent on starting on Sunday, Feb. 28:

  • A Reflection for the Third Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 3:01)

For use the Fourth Week of Lent, starting on Sunday, March 6:

  • A Reflection for the Fourth Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 2:17)

For use the Fifth Week of Lent, starting on Sunday, March 13:

  • A Reflection for the Fifth Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 2:55)

For use during Holy Week, starting on Palm Sunday, March 20

For use on Easter, Sunday, March 27, and in the week that follows:

2015

For use beginning with Ash Wednesday, through Feb. 28

  • A Reflection on Ash Wednesday and the First Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 2:16)

For use the week of March 1:

  • A Reflection for the Second Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 2:16)

For use the week of March 8:

  • A Reflection for the Third Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 2:17)

For use the week of March 15:

  • A Reflection for the Fourth Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 2:17)

For use the week of March 22:

  • A Reflection for the Fifth Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 2:07)

For use the week of March 29 - April 4:

For use on April 5 and the following week:

2014

These weekly reflections were for the 2014 season of Lent.

For use the week of March 2: (Ash Wednesday is March 5)

  • A Reflection on Ash Wednesday (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 2:56)

For use the week of March 9:

  • A Reflection for the First Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 2:11)

For use the week of March 16:

  • A Reflection for the Second Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 2:02)

For use the week of March 23:

  • A Reflection for the Third Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 2:27)

For use the week of March 30:

  • A Reflection for the Fourth Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 2:14)

For use the week of April 6:

  • A Reflection for the Fifth Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 2:23)

For use the week of April 13 — Palm Sunday — and Easter:

  • A Reflection on Palm Sunday (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 2:56)

USCCB Offers Online Resources For Lent — USCCB website

2013

These weekly reflections were for the 2013 season of Lent.

For use on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 13:

For use the week of Feb. 20:

For use the week of Feb. 27:

For use the week of March 6:

For use the week of March 13:

For use the week of March 20:

For use the week of Palm Sunday, March 24:

For use on Easter Sunday, March 31:

2012

These weekly reflections were for the 2012 season of Lent.

Sr. Juliana Casey, a member of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Monroe, Mich., authored the series.

She holds a doctorate degree (Ph.D.) and the doctor of sacred theology from the Katholieke Universitaat te Leuven, Louvain, Belgium. She was among the first women to achieve this degree in the university's 450 year history.

For use on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22:

For use the week of Feb. 26:

For use the week of March 4:

For use the week of March 11:

For use the week of March 18:

For use the week of March 25:

For use the week of Palm Sunday, April 1:

For use on Easter Sunday, April 8:

2011

These reflections were for the 2011 season of Lent.

They were authored by Sr. Marie Michele Donnelly, RSM, co-director of Mercy Spiritual Ministries, and an adjunct theology professor at Gwynedd Mercy College. She holds a master of arts degree in theology from Villanova University.

For use the week of March 13:

  • A Reflection for the First Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file  (approximate length - 3:17)

For use the week of March 20:

  • A Reflection for the Second Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 4:23)

For use the week of March 27:

  • A Reflection for the Third Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 5:01)

For use the week of April 3:

  • A Reflection for the Fourth Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 3:55)

For use the week of April 10:

  • A Reflection for the Fifth Week of Lent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • MP3 file (approximate length - 5:34)

For use the week of April 17 — Holy Week and Easter:

2010

These reflections were offered as the 2010 series. They were authored by Nathan D. Mitchell, Ph.D., professional specialist in the Department of Theology, and concurrent associate director of the University of Notre Dame Center for Liturgy. They were originally published in the booklet, Daybreaks: Daily Reflections for Lent and Easter (by Liguori Publications). Liguori has graciously allowed CHA to extend this resource to our members.

For use the week of Feb. 15: (Ash Wednesday is Feb. 17)

For use the week of Feb. 21:

For use the week of Feb. 28:

For use the week of March 7:

For use the week of March 14:

For use the week of March 21:

For use the week of March 28 — Holy Week and Easter:

2009

These reflections were offered in 2009 and authored by Fr. Joseph Nassal, CCSP.

For use the week of February 15:

For use the week of February 22: (Ash Wednesday is February 25)

For use the week of March 1:

For use the week of March 8:

For use the week of March 15:

For use the week of March 22:

For use the week of March 29:

For use the week of April 8 — Holy Week — there are three offerings for this week:

2008

Week of Feb. 4

Week of Feb. 11

Week of Feb. 18

Week of Feb. 25

Week of March 4

Week of March 10

Week of March 17 — Holy Week (two offerings)

Week of March 24

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