Our journey of Lent this year is leading us not only to the great feast of Easter, but also to a historic and grace-filled moment for our faith communities. During this sacred season, our two parishes—Our Lady of Pompeii and Saint Bonaventure— are preparing to come together as one parish family under a new name: Saint Padre Pio Parish.
This is an exciting time for all of us, and it is also a time to be deeply grounded in prayer as we prepare for this union and the new chapter the Lord is opening before us. To help us spiritually prepare, we are offering a special Lenten opportunity for prayer and sharing titled “New Wine, New Wineskins.”
This faith-sharing experience is designed especially for parishes, like ours, that are coming together as one community of faith. Through prayer, reflection, and conversation, we will grow in understanding, unity, and love as we walk this path together.
Each evening will begin at 7:30 PM in the church hall of Our Lady of Pompeii (located beneath the church, with ample parking available) and will conclude around 8:45–9:00 PM.
Our time together will include prayer, music, two guided reflections, and small-group sharing in the spirit of the synodal journey of the Church—where each person’s voice is respected, honored, and welcomed. We will also receive a gentle invitation to take what we experience and bring it into our daily lives and relationships.
These sessions will be led by Teresa Gallo from Saint Bonaventure Parish and Father George from Our Lady of Pompeii, along with members of the transition team.
This Lenten series is the first of three opportunities for faith sharing: the second will take place during the Easter season, and the third in the fall.
Schedule
There will be four sessions in this Lenten series:
Tuesday, March 3: Jesus Christ, the Center of Our Hearts and Lives — We begin with Christ himself and reflect on how he calls us into relationship with him and with one another.
Tuesday, March 10: The Church: The People of God — We explore who we are as God’s people, a pilgrim community journeying toward what the Lord calls us to be.
Tuesday, March 17: Change in Our Lives, Our Church, and Our World — We reflect on how to navigate change in ways that are life-giving and loving.
Tuesday, March 24(Holy Week): The Paschal Mystery: From Death into Life — We center our hearts on the mystery of Christ’s dying and rising, which shapes our lives as his disciples and our coming together as one parish.