Lent 2025 at St. Ignatius Martyr, Austin, TX

Lent: Prepare for Easter by Conversion

Lent is about Easter

We believe Easter is so important that, like Christmas has Advent, we should have an entire season of preparation in order to celebrate it as it deserves. So the question is, how should we celebrate Easter? As people who have allowed God to make us clean, to give us a new heart, and live as God's people (see Ez 36:25-28).

How are we to go about doing this practically? Traditionally, the Church has given us three pillars of preparation for Easter that seek to renew our relationships:

• with God (prayer)
• with ourselves (fasting)
• with our neighbor (almsgiving)

Through prayer, we bring our lives to God, drawing closer to Him and seeking him with hungry hearts and bodies, which leads into our second pillar. Fasting reminds us of our hunger for God, that it is God who we should desire above all else. When we fast from food or a particular form of commerce or entertainment, we end up with more time and money, which connects us to our final Lenten pillar. Almsgiving requires us to give to those who are in need. When we learn we can do without in our fasting, when we're relying more on God through prayer, we realize the true abundance we have in our lives and are called to be generous with those in need as we are our brothers' and sisters' keepers.

All our Lenten practices are for nothing if they are not rooted in love and a desire to “return to God” and know God more deeply. This is what is meant by conversion: to transform more and more into the person God wants us to be: holy, loving, and joyful disciples of Jesus, each in our own unique ways.

Below, you'll find a few ways that you can pray, fast, and give alms during Lent as part of the St. Ignatius community, as well as some helpful information on the Church's guidelines for fasting. Let us all pray for one another as we undertake this season of conversion, this season of Lent, which will see us transformed more and more into the people God is calling us to be during our joyful Easter celebrations.

Prayer

You may consider praying a rosary a day, reading and praying with the daily Mass Readings, attending 7 a.m. or 12:05 p.m. Daily Mass once a week or more, attending Monday evening adoration, or simply spending 10 or 15 minutes a day in silence with God. 

You may also pray with us at St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church this Lent. See below.

Weekend Mass Times

• Saturday: 5 p.m. (Anticipated/Vigil)
• Sunday
  • 7:30 a.m.
  • 9:30 a.m.
  • 11:15 a.m. (Interpreted for the Deaf)
  • 1 p.m. (español)
  • 5 p.m. (Life Teen)

Daily Mass Times

• Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. and 12:05 p.m.
• Saturday: 8 a.m.

Weekly Confession Times

Three to five priests available most times

• Wednesdays at 6 p.m.
• Saturday mornings immediately after 8 a.m. Mass.

Sunday: Holy Cross Weekly Virtual Retreat

All are invited to a weekly, virtual Lenten retreat hosted by the Congregation of Holy Cross. This year's retreat will focus on growing in the theological and moral virtues. The webinars will be live at 6 p.m. on Sundays during Lent with presenters from around the Congregation, including our very own Fr. John Dougherty, C.S.C. Find more information and register.

Monday: Eucharistic Adoration

Every Monday during Lent, we will have Eucharistic Adoration in the main Church from 6-9 p.m. This is a quiet time of prayer with no public recitation of devotions or music. Consider reading a Bible or other spiritual writings, listening to the Holy Cross Weekly Virtual Retreat (bring your head phones), or simply sitting in silence with the Lord.

Tuesday: Centering Prayer

Join our group that meets regularly to pray Centering Prayer, which is a way to be with God in silent prayer. This group meets on Tuesdays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Annex Chapel. Learn more about Centering Prayer at St. Ignatius Martyr.

Friday: Stations of the Cross

Pray through the last moments in the life of Christ every Friday during Lent at 5:30 p.m. in the main Church. Afterward, join us in the Family Center for a fish dinner from the Knights of Columbus. More information can be found here.

Fasting

Fasting and Abstinence Guidelines

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting (see guidelines below) and abstinence from meat. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence from meat.

• Fasting is 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.
• Abstinence from meat is obligatory from age 14 onwards.
• Physically or mentally ill people, including those suffering from chronic illness such as diabetes, are excused from fasting and abstinence.
• Pregnant or nursing women are also excused from fasting and abstinence.

Remember, the point of fasting is to bring us closer to God, not to prove something to ourselves or show that we are good at giving things up.

 Friday: Fish Dinners

Friday Fish Fry Dinners The Knights of Columbus will be preparing & selling their delicious fish dinners in the Family Center on six Fridays of Lent, beginning this coming Friday, March 7, and continuing through April 11. Regular dinners will be $11, and dinner for seniors & children (smaller plates) are $10. Hours will be from 5:30 - 7 p.m. Sit-down or take-out, fried or baked fish dinners will be available.

Almsgiving

What are the needs of our local, regional, national, and international communities? Might there be a way for you to give your time, talent, or treasure to help our neighbors?

Parish Service Day

Join our parish and school community on Saturday, March 8 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. to clean and garden around campus, write letters to the home-bound and incarcerated, and more. Please bring gardening and cleaning supplies.

St. Ignatius Martyr Food Pantry

You can help by either donating (monetary or food/clothing/hygiene items) or volunteering. Learn more about the St. Ignatius Martyr Food Pantry.