All girls, grades 1-12, Catholic, independent school with a co-ed early childhood program

The Lenten Journey
Priest puts ashes on students forehead

 

US Head applies ashes to students forehead

 

What is Lent?

“Lent is the liturgical season of forty days which begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with the celebration of the Easter Triduum. The tone of this preparation is penitential because we are focused on the Paschal Mystery, the extraordinary central mystery of the Christian faith. Pondering Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection elicits in us a transformation of our hearts and minds with a view to unite ourselves with Christ. A simple way to describe Lent is that period during which we engage in serious personal reflection and prayer as we consider the health of our hearts, that is our capacity to love. This season of forty days affords us the opportunity to slow down in order to pay attention to the core of our being. It is a time of stillness. It is this stillness or quieting that affords us an invitation to pay attention to who we are as human beings, persons compelled to search for truth and meaning. Lent supports us in our process to become fully human. As those called to accompany young people in their own search for truth and meaning, Lent is an important time for all engaged in Sacred Heart education because we are committed to educating to a personal and active faith. Today many of us wonder what this commitment means in the face of the shifting religious landscape which is the context in which we find ourselves. It is our time to consider our own spirituality, to ponder in what way we are related to mystery, to God, to creation, to Christ, to the Holy Spirit. Lent honors our personal quest for truth and meaning.” (Conference of Sacred Heart Education, At the Core, March 2019)

US students holding hands during ash wednesday mass

 

students standing with items collected for Christ Child Society

Church Guidelines for Catholics

The following guidelines must be applied according to one’s own state of health and wellbeing.

  • Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence for Catholics from age 18 to 59.
  • In addition Catholics who are 14 and older are required to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent.
  • Fasting as explained by the U.S. bishops means partaking of only one full meal. Some food (not equaling another full meal) is permitted at breakfast and around midday or in the evening—depending on when a person chooses to eat the main or full meal.
    Lent Offerings at Stone Ridge

Lent Offerings at Stone Ridge

All-School

Lenten Resources for Personal, Family, or Classroom Prayer & Reflection

Lenten Calendars    

Employees and Parents

Prayer

  • Employees: Busy Person's Retreat: March 11-15

  • Rosary for Peace, Tuesdays, 11:30am, Eliza Nesbit Contemplative Center

  • First Friday Masses, March 1, 9:30 am, Chapel 

  • Way of the Cross: Visit our Stations of the Cross in the Front Lawn Tree Grove. Guides available in the Chapel, and Station images are in the Chapel in the event of inclement weather

Lower School

Prayer

  • Ash Wednesday Mass, February 14, 8:15 am, Chapel, Grades 1-4
  • Little Hearts Ash Wednesday Prayer, February 14, 9:20 am, Chapel
  • Reconciliation, TBD, Chapel 
  • Stations of the Cross, scheduled for each class, Gr 1-4 individually

Almsgiving           

Middle School

Prayer

  • Ash Wednesday Mass, February 14, 11:30 am, Gym 3, Grades 5-8 
  • Lenten Morning Prayer at Assembly and Advisory, daily
  • Middle School Stations of the Cross, scheduled by grade level
  • Grade 5 Retreat: March 18
  • Reconciliation (opt-in) during week of March 4-8

Almsgiving

  • Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl Program conducted by Campus Ministry and Student Council Representatives; optional 
  • Generous Hearts at Lent - social action during Flex period on 3/8; in support of Kits to Hearts sponsored by the MS Student Council
  • Donate Diapers for St. Mark’s Food Pantry in Hyattsville, MD (significant need for sizes 4, 5, and 6); ongoing collection, bring to 457 (Campus Ministry)

Upper School

Prayer

  • Ash Wednesday Mass, February 14, 9:15  am, Gym 3
  • Morning Assembly: Introduction to Lent- Campus Ministry
  • Confessions, Feb. 22 during morning break
  • Lenten First Friday Mass, March 1, 9:30am Chapel
  • Rosary for Peace, Tuesdays at 11:30am
  • Stations of the Cross, March 21 during morning break
  • Eliza Nesbit Contemplative Center available for individual quiet prayer

Retreats    

  • 3rd Academic Kairos Retreat: March 6- 8
  • 2nd Academic Retreat: March 20

Almsgiving/Service

  • Social Action Days: February 28 and March 20
  • CRS Rice Bowls: available from Ms. Plummer or crsricebowl.org/donate
  • Sacred Heart Network-wide Service Project to support Sophie's Farm in the Philippines. 3/11-3/20. 

Sophie's Farm, run by the RSCJ, was recently hit by flooding that destroyed much of the farm's livelihood programs. Social Awareness and Fundraising efforts led by SASAB and Stone Ridge’s representatives to the Network Student Advisory Committee (NSAC) 



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