February Lenten Desktop Wallpaper

The editors of Busted Halo is making available "a continuing series of monthly wallpapers featuring a thematic image of the Church season along with important dates to keep in mind for the coming month." Click here to check it out.

2013 Cardinal’s Appeal

As stewards and Disciples of Christ, we recognize that all the goods and riches in our life are gifts from God.  Strengthened by the Eucharist, we respond to God’s generosity in our lives with gratitude by using and sharing our gifts in service of others.  Please share your gifts and make a gift to the 2013 Cardinal’s Appeal To date our parish has received $3,065  in pledges/gifts toward the 2013 Cardinal’s  Appeal, from 10 families.

Christian Foundation for Children & Aging

Fr. Cyrus Gallagher, a Capuchin Priest, will be with us at all Masses this weekend , to present information about the mission of the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA), which sponsors deserving children, youth, and elders overseas, and to ask for our participation. We invite and encourage the participation of all the members of our parish. http://www.cfcausa.org

Ash Wednesday

Ashes will be distributed at the 12:10 pm Mass (English), 3:00 pm service (English) & 7:00 pm Mass (Spanish).

Lent 2103: Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina is a slow, contemplative praying of the Scriptures. Time set aside in a special way for Lectio Divina enables us to discover in our daily life an underlying spiritual rhythm. Within this rhythm, we discover an increasing ability to offer more of ourselves and our relationships to the Father, and to accept the embrace that God is continuously extending to us in the person of his son, Jesus Christ. Lectio Divina will be presented in Spanish on Fridays during Lent at 7 pm in the chapel.

Lent 2013: Reflection

Lenten Reflection will take place on Thursdays at 7-8 pm in the lower level classroom to discuss Sunday readings.

Lent 2013: Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross will be observed on Fridays during Lent at 6:00 pm in the chapel. (bilingual)

Lent 2013: Prayer, Fasting & Alms-giving

Our observance of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which falls on February 13 this year, and is a day of fast and abstinence for Catholics. At Mass on Ash Wednesday, the imposition of ashes replicates an ancient penitential practice and symbolizes our dependence upon God's mercy and forgiveness.

The three traditional pillars of Lenten observance are prayer, fasting and alms-giving. The Church asks us to surrender ourselves to prayer and to the reading of Scripture, to fasting and to giving alms. The fasting that all do together on Fridays is but a sign of the daily Lenten discipline of individuals and households: fasting for certain periods of time, fasting from certain foods, but also fasting from other things and activities. Likewise, the giving of alms is some effort to share this world equally—not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time and talents.

We are also all encouraged to frequently attend Mass during the Lenten season. At St. Columba, in addition to weekend services, Mass is celebrated on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 12:10 pm. If our schedule is not convenient for you, the following is a list of Mass time at other neighborhood churches:

St. Francis of Assisi, 135 West 31st Street,  between 6th & 7th avenues

7:00 am, 7:30 am, 8:00 am, 11:30 am, 12:15 pm, 1:15 pm, 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm

St. John the Baptist, 210 West 31st Street, between 7th & 8th avenues 

6:45 am, 7:45 am, 12:15 pm and 5:15 pm

Lent is the perfect time to make our peace with the Lord, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated at the following local churches:

St. Francis of Assisi, 135 West 31st Street, between 6th & 7th avenues

Monday – Friday, English: 7:30 am-9:00 am, 11:00 am-2:00 pm & 4:00 pm-6:00 pm; Spanish: 11:30 am-1:00 pm & 4:30 pm-6:00 pm 

Saturday, English 2:00 pm-3:00 pm

St. John the Baptist, 210 West 31st Street, between 7th & 8th avenues

Monday-Friday - Church, English: 7:15 am-7:45 am & 11:45 pm- 12:15 pm

Monday-Friday – Office Reconciliation Room, English: 9:00 am-5:0 0pm

Saturday – Church, English: 11:30 am-12:30 pm & 3:00 pm-4:00 pm

Be still, and know that I am God! (Psalm 46:10)

On March 6th at 7 pm, we will explore the discipline of Centering Prayer -- a method developed from the Catholic contemplative tradition, placing a strong emphasis on interior silence, facilitating a simpler and more interior sense of union with God. Details will posted soon.

Annual Peter's Pence Collection

Next weekend (February 9th-10th) we support the Holy Father in his charitable works. 

The Peter’s Pence Collection is taken up worldwide to support the most disadvantaged: victims of war, oppression, and natural disasters and others in need of emergency assistance.