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Lent, our annual "faith tune-up," begins Ash Wednesday, February 25, 2009.

But wait! First, people across the United States and beyond have taken to celebrating Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. It's a great day for sending a Catholic e-card, either to celebrate the day or to proclaim Lenten intentions. I encourage you to place our Catholic Greetings link on your site. Sending an e-greeting is a great way to share Catholic culture across the miles.

These days there's not too much to be said about Mardi Gras from a faith perspective, but it does mark a Catholic way of looking at life: cycles of celebration and preparation as well as living and breathing the life, death and Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus. Historically, Mardi Gras marks the end of carnival season, the end of the celebration that began at Christmas. For most purposes in the United States, today, however, it's more a "last bash" before Lent—or just an excuse to party with abandon. In religious circles, some customs celebrate with special foods (pancakes, etc.), feasting before the fast begins. Other ways of celebrating (partying) are more famous. Shrove Tuesday is another name for the day, especially in the Anglican Communion and in some Protestant churches. That has to do with religious practices as Lent begins. No matter what it's called, the day before Lent begins is marked by cultures across the globe.

Easter, of course, the Resurrection and eternal life of Christians through Jesus, is what it's all about. Lent is our way of preparing ourselves for that celebration, which begins at Easter (April 12) and goes all the way to Pentecost (May 31). Our “Lent: Call to Conversion” feature this year offers a multitude of ways for your Web visitors to learn about and celebrate the season. Of course, we have a number of educational articles and news articles related to Lent (did you hear about the Pope's February 2 Lenten message?) We offer a daily program for Lenten practice, daily mediations, Father Greg Friedman's YouTube features, and more. Check it out, and, Happy Lent!

John Feister
Editor, AmericanCatholic.org

Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, Minn. (Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis).
This is an attractive site that keeps its focus on providing parishioners with a good variety and amount of online information. The home page is highlighted by a slide-slow presentation of photos as well as latest parish news and a welcoming message from the rector to “virtual visitors and Internet pilgrims!” From there, the site opens up to specific information and resources about the parish, its role as the mother church of the archdiocese and its patron during the worldwide Catholic Church celebration of the Year of St. Paul. There is also a link to celebrate the structure as a “treasure of art and history,” complete with a virtual tour that includes pop-up photos of many of the areas of the church, an extensive photo album and specific and detailed information about its architecture, restoration efforts and tours offered to the public. Yet the site excels in helping to build the community of faith in its parish area. There visitors will find audio archived homilies, complete with organ music, as well as online forms to register, to volunteer “time and talent” and to contribute. The site also provides online its marriage and wedding prep booklet, its e-newsletter for single and married young adults, a brochure on the youth choir and a complete listing of its musical “repertoire for the Church year.” It also offers, as many sites do, map and driving directions and Mass schedules, but includes times for eucharistic adoration as well and a guide to confession. The Cathedral of St. Paul has revealed to the visitor a church community that is active, has a long and rich history and reaches out to encourage and make interaction easy and fulfilling.

 

U.S. Catholic Bishops’ ‘The Lenten Season’
For those looking to explore “a variety of suggestions and resources to facilitate your Lenten practice and your journey with Christ,” the U.S. Conference of Bishops’ Web site Lenten area provides an easy-to-navigate place to build on the wealth of the AmericanCatholic.org Lent feature area. The bishops’ Lenten Season area features daily readings in text and audio as well as daily video reflections and thought of the day. The area is broken into four themes, each with a collection of resources: “What We Believe,” including the words of Pope Benedict XVI and the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults; “What We Celebrate,” on the sacraments, especially baptism and reconciliation during Lent; “How We Live,” on fasting and almsgiving and their relation to poverty, human dignity, the economy and the environment; and “How We Pray.” There are also video meditations and a podcast of the stations of the cross and a link to Pope Benedict’s Lent 2009 message.

 

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