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.” (Conference of Sacred Heart Education, At the Core, March 2019)

 

students standing with items collected for Christ Child Society
US students holding hands during ash wednesday mass

 

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

 

All-School

 

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

Lenten Calendars    

Employees and Parents

 

Prayer

  • Employees: Busy Person's Retreat: March 17–21, 2025

  • First Friday Masses, March 7, 9:30 a.m., 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

Almsgiving

  • Blessings in a Backpack: Friday, April  4, 7:15–7:45 a.m. in the Mater Center. Put our faith into action by preparing meal-to-go bags for Blessings in a Backpack Please sign up each person individually here. Open to students in Grades 4–12; students in Grades 2 & 3 must be accompanied by an adult.
    • Visit the Blessings in a Backpack Amazon Wish List to donate the items needed for the meal bags. Your items will be directly delivered to the Community Service Committee when you choose Blessings in a Backpack wishlist on your shipping page. We ask that the items be donated by March 24.
    • If you have an SUV or minivan, please consider volunteering via the sign-up to drop off the bins filled with meal bags to Blessings in a Backpack (1016 N. Market Street, Frederick, MD, 21701) on Friday, March 4. For more information, please contact: Shannon McDonough and Nicki Wells, SRPA Community Service Committee Co-chairs.

Lower School

Prayer

  • Ash Wednesday Mass, March 5, 8:30 a.m., Chapel, Grades 1–4
  • Little Hearts Ash Wednesday Prayer, March 5, 9:20 a.m., Chapel
  • Stations of the Cross, scheduled for each class, Grades 1–4 individually

Almsgiving           

  • Grade 4 Generous Hearts Direct service through Comfort Cases, March 10–14, 2025
  • Toddler Towel Drive for Christ Child Society (Students can drop towels in the baby pool by the LS Office, March 17–20, 2025) 

Middle School

Prayer

  • Ash Wednesday Mass, March 5, 11:30 a.m., Gym 3 (Grades 5–8)
  • Lenten Morning Prayer at Assembly and Advisory, daily
  • Grade 5 Retreat: March 14, 2025

Almsgiving

  • Generous Hearts at Lent - Social Action during P6 on March 20, 2025
  • Donate any of the following for Christ Child Society’s Toddler Swim Bag program: 

Upper School

Prayer

  • Ash Wednesday Mass, March 5, Following Attendance in Advisory Locations at 8:00 a.m. (Mass held in Gym 3)
  • Confessions during morning break (Date Pending)
  • Lenten First Friday Mass, March 7, 9:30 a.m. Chapel
  • Rosary for Peace, Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. (Eliza Nesbit Contemplative Center)
  • Stations of the Cross: Friday, April 11 (Tentative), During Morning Break
  • Eliza Nesbit Contemplative Center available for individual quiet prayer (Lenten Resources are available outside of the center)

Almsgiving/Service

  • Social Action Days: March 5, March 19, and April 9
  • Ash Wednesday Canned Food Drive: Bring one can or more for Father McKenna Center
  • CRS Rice Bowls: available from Ms. Plummer or Emma Tramontozzi ’27 or crsricebowl.org/donate 
    • Rice Bowls can be returned by Wednesday, April 16, or after Easter Break on Tuesday, April 22, or anytime online at crsricebowl.org/donate
  • Generous Hearts at Lent Week: March 17–21
    • Bake Sale to benefit Christ Child Society, Thursday, March 20
    • Focused Attention to CRS Rice Bowls Almsgiving


Pray Fast Give