Ministry Ideas for the Season of Lent

Cassie Schutzer
Wednesday, February 5, 2025

 

If you’re looking for ways to celebrate the season of Lent with young adults in your parish, here are some things our partner parishes and others have tried. Remember that this season – with its special attention to the practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving – is ultimately about deepening our relationship with the Lord.
 

Prayer and Sacraments

  • Attending an extra Mass during the week
  • Praying Morning Prayer as a community
  • Lenten retreat
  • Young adult-led Divine Mercy Chaplet before Sunday Mass
  • Stations of the Cross on Fridays
  • Extra Adoration opportunities – especially in the evenings
  • Expanded Confession hours
  • Communicating Triduum and Easter Mass times

 

Catechesis and Faith-Sharing

  • Teaching about the Triduum
  • Lent Teaching Series – prayer, fasting, almsgiving
  • Daily reflections written by members of the community
  • An afternoon of reflection


Events

  • “Stations and Libations”
  • “Prayer-Penance-Pub” night
  • Parish Lenten Mission
  • Pentecost International Food Festival
  • Praise and Worship Mardi Gras event

 
Small Group Gatherings

  • Weekly young adult bible study or book study
  • Parish-wide book study with young adult participation
  • Monthly dinner club


Service and Almsgiving

  • Ministry to the Homeless
  • Collection for migrant farmworkers

 
Socials

  • Friday soup nights – potluck or soup swap
  • Fish Fry
  • Palm-folding workshop with demonstration
  • Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras event

 

Links for Programs and Books