How To Register With St. Joseph's Church, Biddeford, Me

Lenten Reminders

Lent begins on Ash Midweek, March 2, and continues through the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Th, April 14.
Ash Wednesday and Expert Friday are days of fast and forbearance.
Fasting is obligatory for those who have completed their 18th yr and have not withal reached their 60th twelvemonth. Fasting allows 1 full meal. Two smaller meals may be taken, not to equal one full meal.
Forbearance from meat is obligatory for all who have reached their 14th year. This is likewise obligatory for all Fridays in Lent.

Diocese of Portland Launches Special Lent Website Section

Lent is a menses of spiritual renewal that helps us gear up for the celebration of the Paschal mystery of Christ; that is, His passion, death, and resurrection. The three pillars of the Lenten season are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. By spending fourth dimension in prayer and in reflection on the Scriptures, through penance and through giving up (sacrificial acts) and giving to others (charitable acts), we look to experience a spiritual rea-wakening that brings u.s.a. closer to Christ. A special Lent section (www.portlanddiocese.org/lent-resources) has been launched on the Diocese of Portland website featuring a diverseness of resources to help you on your Lenten journey. The section volition be updated throughout Lent with updates and additional events equally they are confirmed. During Lent, you can likewise find news, stories, pictures, and videos from around Maine on the diocesan website (www.portlanddiocese.org), Facebook page (world wide web.facebook.com/PortlandDiocese), Twitter page (world wide web.twitter.com/PortlandDiocese), and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/portlanddioceseme).

Bring together Monsignor Charles M. Murphy for a series of one-hour workshops about his book, The Spirituality of Fasting .

The workshops will begin on Wed, March 9, and take place every Wednesday for 5 weeks, half-dozen:30 - 7:30 PM (catastrophe on April 6). At:
St. Martha Catholic Church
30 Portland Road, Kennebunk
The series of events will be live-streamed at
https://www.holyspiritme.org/mass-live-st-martha
To register, please call St. Martha Church at (207) 985-6252.

Monsignor Murphy's books are available for $10 per re-create in the St. Martha (Kennebunk) or St. Mary (Wells) offices.
(regular retail is $14.95)

NEW!!! Parish subscription to FORMED

Our parish has a subscription to FORMED , a premier online platform filled with over iv,000 Catholic studies, movies, sound dramas, talks, e-books, and even cartoons for our children. FORMED has content from over 60 apostolates, including Augustine Institute, Ignatius Press, and the Knights of Columbus, with material that is professionally produced, engaging, and solid in its canon. Best of all, this textile is free to yous.

Our parish volition exist using the textile on FORMED to back up our ministries and provide standing education for staff members and parishioners. Much of FORMED's content is available in both English language and Spanish.

You take piece of cake admission to all of the material on FORMED to back up your own faith journey and that of your family members.

You tin enjoy FORMED on your figurer, or on your television if you have a Roku device or Apple TV. You lot can even heed on your telephone every bit yous commute to piece of work or do chores.

To gain access to all of FORMED's content, follow these unproblematic steps:

♦ Go to https://signup.formed.org/

♦ Enter our parish's name or nix lawmaking

♦ Enter your proper name and your email address

That's it! Y'all're in.

Later on you lot are signed in you can also get the free FORMED app for your telephone past searching FORMED Cosmic in your app store.

Now that you accept signed into FORMED, look at the following:

Exciting Lenten Organized religion Sharing opportunity – The Search

The Search is a multi-part video based spiritual experience from the producers of the FORMED online platform that our parish recently subscribed to. The production is cute, and information technology is hosted by the well-known Catholic evangelist Chris Stefanick.

The Search is not meant just to be watched . . . and it's certainly non meant to exist watched alone. Yous are invited to experience the seven sessions of The Search at either St. Martha or St. Mary's this Lent, or to participate about. Each group will pray together, lookout the video presentations, and take the opportunity for word with one some other virtually the content.

If your religion is already solid, The Search will aid you to deepen it. If you're feeling unsure, it's for you too. If you lot're worried most your adult kids or adult grandkids, it'southward a great series for you lot to share with them -- by bringing them along. The Search features scientists, artists, philosophers, and other people from all walks of life proclaiming how their searches for meaning in life led them to Jesus and the Gospel . The Search proclaims the Gospel in words that mod ears are fix to hear and images that modern eyes can't aid merely meet and remember!

Click the image below to view:
The Search Trailer i

The Search group will meet at St. Martha in Kennebunk on Mondays March seven, xiv, 21, 28, April iv, eleven & 25 at 11am. Some other group will encounter on those same Mondays at St. Mary's in Wells at half-dozen:30pm. A virtual option may likewise be bachelor on either Tuesday or Thursday if in that location is plenty involvement. If you are interested in signing upwardly for the virtual (Zoom) group, or if y'all have whatsoever other questions, please contact the parish director of organized religion formation Carolyn Houston at 985-6252, 646-5605 or Carolyn.houston@portlanddiocese.org.

March 13, 2022 @ two:00 AM

UPDATING
PARISH FILES

Nosotros have noticed that much of the contact information in our system is no longer current or valid. Please have a minute, complete this course with whatsoever changes, and place in the offering basket. We will update our files from this new data. Nosotros greatly appreciate your help in this endeavor! Thank you so much!

Last Proper name ____________________________________________________
Offset Proper name ____________________________________________________
Mailing Accost: ________________________________________________

________________________________________________

Email address: _________________________________
Phone Number(south): Dwelling:__________________Mobile: __________________
Family Members: _________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

(Click Here to Impress)

Those seeking to join the Church or wanting to know more virtually the
Catechism of the Catholic Church, telephone call Rosanne Smith at
(207) 985-6252.

For Prayer Line Requests:
Contact Judy Hyotte at 508-641-4109 or jhyotte@twc.com

Homebound Parishioners:
If you wish to receive Holy Communion, please call (207) 646-5605

forty Days for Life Greenland N.H.

Spring 2022 Entrada

Join 40 Days for Life to Assistance Save lives past participating in the prayer acuity in forepart of The Lovering Health Center, 559 Portsmouth Ave, Greenland, N.H.
For more than information and to sign up for vigil hours visit https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/greenland or Call our local contacts Carol Ingraham: 207-985-3166 or e-mail Deb Dwyer at deb40days@yahoo.com

LENTEN RETREAT OPPORTUNITIES
at the Marie Joseph Spiritual Centre, Biddeford
FMI: 207-284-5671 or www.mariejoseophspiritual.org
We are all Sinners Loved Passionately by God
with Ann Boyle, RSR
~ Thursday, March 3 ~

"I am a sinner". Are you a sinner, too? To the surprise of many, Pope Francis described himself as a sinner. He did not leave us with this idea. He added "I am a sinner whom the Lord has looked upon." In this, he tells us that he lives in these two realities: he is sinful, and he is loved. Nosotros are all sinners, and we are loved passionately by God. With a contrite heart we enter the flavor of Lent, trusting in the Honey of God and with hope in God'south mercy. If in dubiousness, nosotros might pray these parables: the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the Parable of the lost Sheep, and the Parable of the Lost coin, where He welcomes us, seeks us out, searches for us, and holds us gently to his heart. Come experience God's love for y'all.

Arrival: 9:45 AM; Program Beginning: 10 AM; Program Conclusion: 3:30 PM
Cost: $60 (includes hot meal); Overnight option: $120.00
Finding God in All Things — An Ignatian Directed Prayer Weekend
with Aline Plante, p.m. Claire Gagnon, p.m. Diane Dube, p.m.
~ Friday, March iv - Sunday, March half dozen ~

"Finding God in All Things" is a cadre component of Ignatian Spirituality. St Ignatius, who gifted the Church building with his Spiritual Exercises, believed that God is nowadays in the smallest of all creatures, in the beauty of nature, in the simplest of human interactions, also as in the neat mysteries of the Christian faith. Minute or grand, God is present in our everyday encounters. We need only our awareness to enter this reality. We will begin our journey to greater sensation with a group re-flection and spend the bulk of the weekend in silence and solitude, examining the content of our ain lives in our search to find God there. One individual session with a spiritual managing director will allow for guidance in that exploration. On Sunday morning, we will conclude with a group sharing of the fruits of our experience in the hope that we can have away greater appreciation and conviction to continue Finding God in All things.

Arrival: Fri @ 3 PM; Supper: v:xxx PM; Program Start: vii PM
Programme Decision: noon meal on Sun; Cost: $260 for private room.

Youth Ministry building

Matthew 25:35 Meal
"For I was hungry,
and you gave me food;

I was thirsty

and you gave me drink;
a stranger,
and you welcomed me."
(Matthew 25:35)

The youth ministries of Holy Spirit and St. Therese of Liseux Parishes provide monthly Matthew Meals. They accept identify at the St. Ignatius gym at 25 Riverside Avenue in Sanford every second Tuesday of the month from v:30-6:30 PM (the next one is scheduled for this Tuesday, March 8) . To back up this project, gift cards to Hannaford are welcome and are used to purchase supplies for this endeavor. Donations of pre-packaged, individual-sized cookies and fruit cups are also requested. The fruit cups must be "no sugar added." Donations should be labeled "Matthew Meal" and dropped off at either St. Martha or St. Mary Church. Prayers for volunteers and guests are as well appreciated!
FMI, contact Carolyn Houston at: 985-6252, 646-5605, or carolyn.houston@portlanddiocese.org.

The Holy Spirit Parish Part of Lifelong Faith Formation has been bringing exciting faith community and education events to the par-ish, entitled Journey in Religion – adult germination with separate sessions for children. These events are geared toward adult faith formation simply involve parishioners of every age. They are for all parishioners. We get together together for an opening prayer earlier breaking into groups for age-appropriate faith germination. The adult session features the highly acclaimed program on The Sacraments with Bishop Robert Barron and is facilitated by an experienced developed catechist. We are chosen to grade our faith as well as our community. Our mission as Catholics is to grow closer to Jesus and to share His story with others. The Journey in Faith sessions enables us to learn more while evangelizing ane another every bit a faith family unit. They as well assist us in recognizing how nosotros are called to bring the love of Jesus to our wider community. The next Journey in Organized religion event will take place on Dominicus, March half dozen, from iii-v PM, at St. Martha Church. The event theme volition be "Eucharist" , facilitated past Dr. Mary Colombo. Children will savor their ain carve up historic period-appropriate activities related to "Eucharist" also.
For a schedule of Journey in Faith sessions, please visit the Formation page on the parish website at:

Middle School Outreach Project
~ Care Kits for the Homeless ~

There are many people in southern Maine and seacoast New Hampshire who suffer from homelessness. Many lack unproblematic things that most of the states accept for granted.

Beginning this weekend , the Holy Spirit Parish heart school classes will be collecting items to make "intendance kits" for the homeless in our communities. Care kits are gallon-sized "to-get" bags filled with basic necessities that can be distributed to people who need them on the street, at homeless shelters, and at soup kitchens.

The Middle School classes invite yous to purchase one or more of the items listed beneath (new and unopened please) and bring them to church before March half dozen . There is a collection basket in the narthex of both St. Martha and of St. Mary churches for the items to be dropped off. Gift cards should be placed in an envelope labeled "faith formation" and dropped in the collection basket OR dropped off at the parish or religion formation offices (slid under the part door if the office isn't open).

NEW and UNOPENED items being collected:
• Men's and women's regular socks
• Men's and women'southward deodorant
• Individually packaged soap
• Individually packaged toothbrushes
• Toothpaste
• Travel-sized packages of band-aids
• Travel-sized packages of dispensable wipes
• Travel-sized bottles of hand sanitizer
• Travel-sized bottles of lotion
• Travel-sized packages of tissues
• Chapstick/lip balm
• Individually packaged granola confined
• Individually packaged fruit snacks
• Individually wrapped feminine hygiene products
• $v.00 souvenir bill of fare to Dunkin Donuts, McDonald's, or Wendy's

Doors open at viii:xxx AM with the conference running from ix:30 AM to 5 PM. Registration is now open, and a block of rooms has been reserved for the nights of March 31 through April two at a discounted rate for conference participants.
For more information or to register, visit world wide web.portlanddiocese.org/mcwc2022.

Feelings of hurt, emptiness, and regret often touch non only women who get abortions, just their spouses, parents, grandparents, and friends, besides.
Rachel'due south Vineyard retreats aim to offer solace, peace, and inner healing to any private connected to an abortion, regardless of the function they played. The retreat provides a safe identify to grieve the loss and to understand how abortion has affected them, so they can grow beyond information technology.
The next Rachel's Vineyard retreat in Maine volition be held Apr 22-24, starting on Fri at 6 PM and concluding on Divine Mercy Sunday at 1:30 PM. The weekend volition include Scripture meditations, the opportunity for the sacrament of reconciliation, a memorial service, Mass, and sharing with others affected by abortion.
"If things aren't going correct in your life and an abortion is part of your past, healing tin help," said Lori Dahlhoff, director of the Diocese of Portland's Office of Lifelong Organized religion Formation. "The retreat is an opportunity to identify the ways the loss affected yous and acknowledge whatsoever unresolved feelings before the healing begins."
"The Catholic Church building wants to reply with kindness and intendance to the hopelessness of those who might have experienced an ballgame," said Bishop Robert Deeley. "These retreats offering empathetic aid, sensitive counseling, and the healing grace of God through sacramental forgiveness. We look to God in times of personal distress, trauma, and the loss of human life, and find meaning and healing in our lives through the mercy, forgiveness, and love of God."
Participants do not need to exist Cosmic to annals for the weekend.

To talk about attention a retreat, get out a confidential message at (207) 321-7897, eastward-mail projectrachel@portlanddiocese.org, or visit www.portlanddiocese.org/projectrachel.
The registration deadline for the retreat is Fri, April 8.