Lent 2026 at Saint Clement Parish | Chicago Catholic Church | Faith, Mercy, Renewal, Community
This Lent —
Be not afraid. Mercy walks with you.
This Lent, we journey together under the theme Fearless: Wrapped in His Mercy. Throughout Scripture, the words “fear not” echo again and again—appearing more than three hundred times as God speaks to His people. From the beginning, God reminds us that fear does not have the final word—His mercy does.
The Lenten readings place before us some of Scripture’s most powerful stories of mercy: moments where God meets human fear with compassion, healing, and new life. Again and again, we see that when hearts turn toward Jesus, fear loosens its grip. Faith does not erase hardship, but it anchors us in the presence of the One who walks with us through it.
At Saint Clement, Lent is an invitation to walk honestly with God and with one another—to make room for prayer, repentance, healing, and hope. It is a season to lay down what binds us and to rediscover the courage that grows when we trust our lives more fully to Christ.
Whether you come seeking peace, clarity, or renewal, you are welcome here. Join us this Lent as we learn, together, what it means to live our faith fearlessly—wrapped in the mercy of God.
**As we continue the second half of our Lenten journey, these weeks invite us to reflect more deeply, turn our hearts fully toward God, and prepare for the gift of Easter. For those ready to look ahead, explore our Holy Week & Easter schedule—from Palm Sunday to the Triduum services and the Easter Vigil—each gathering is a profound opportunity to enter more fully into Christ’s love, mercy, and the hope of the Resurrection.
Walk Closer with Christ: Lent Worship, Confessions, & Prayer Schedule
This Lent, deepen your prayer life and draw closer to God through a variety of spiritual opportunities at Saint Clement.
ADDITIONAL DAILY MASS TIMES:
During Lent, we are pleased to offer additional Daily Masses.
We will keep our normal schedule of 8:30 a.m. Daily Masses on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
In addition, Daily Mass will be offered all days Monday-Friday at 6:00 p.m.
These daily celebrations provide a sacred rhythm to your Lenten journey and a chance to receive Christ anew. We invite you to participate in our Lenten Daily Mass Challenge, attending Daily Mass at least once a week in addition to weekend Mass attendance.
RECONCILIATION/CONFESSION:
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a powerful encounter with God’s mercy and healing. Reconciliation/Confessions will be available throughout Lent at an expanded schedule:
Tuesdays following morning Mass
Thursdays following evening Mass
Saturdays from 4:00-4:45 p.m. with additional confessors
Sundays from 5:30-6:45 p.m.
We will also host additional opportunities for reconciliation, including Lenten Vespers & Healing Service (Mar. 12)—an evening of prayerful reflection, Adoration, confessions, and anointing of the sick.
We will hold a Holy WeekReconciliation Service on Mar. 31 following 6:00 p.m. Mass, and confessions will also be heard during our Tenebrae service (Apr. 1). Experience God’s mercy and peace as you prepare your heart for Easter.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS:
Join us for Stations of the Cross on Fridays at 12:15 p.m. (Feb. 20 - Mar. 27), a 14-step devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ’s suffering and death. This journey invites us to walk alongside Christ in humility and courage, helping us to discover the strength to carry our own crosses with renewed hope and grace.
Courage Grows When We Walk Together: Formation, Fellowship, and Faith
Lent invites us to step forward with courage—to ask deeper questions, to listen more closely, and to trust God more fully. At Saint Clement, our Lenten programs are designed to help you grow fearless in faith through reflection, conversation, and community.
Men are invited to the Men’s Executive Series(continues until Mar. 25), where accomplished leaders share wisdom and witness about living with integrity, purpose, and courage in today’s world. Learn more about our speakers here.
Women are invited to our series—Fearless Women: A Lenten Journey of Courage and Faith(continues until Mar. 24). This four-week experience moves from personal reflection to shared witness, Scripture, and sacramental life—rooting courage in the heart of our Catholic faith.
Explore the hope at the heart of our faith in BETA: The Promise of the Resurrection(begins Feb. 26), led by Fr. Kartje, as we reflect on what the Church teaches about eternal life—and why it matters for how we live now.
For those 55 and over, Growing in Grace(Mar. 14) offers a space for prayerful conversation, connection, and renewal grounded in life experience and faith. They will meet in March to discuss the topic, “What if your most meaningful spiritual impact is still ahead of you?”
Wherever you find yourself this Lent, these programs offer meaningful opportunities to be formed, encouraged, and strengthened as we journey together toward Easter.
Community Events and Acts of Mercy
Belonging to a faith community means sharing life and supporting one another. Thank you to the 487 parishioners, families, and friends who joined us for this year’s Lenten Fish Fry on March 6th. Across three seating times, we gathered to enjoy a delicious meal of Parson’s fried fish, fries, and coleslaw. The energy of the evening was palpable—lots of chatting, lots of laughing, lots of celebrating over a shared meal! We’re especially grateful to our staff and event organizers, whose planning and leadership helped the night run so smoothly. Heartfelt thanks as well to the many volunteers—more than ever before!—who set up and decorated the space, welcomed guests, made plates, served food, managed trash and recycling, and stayed late to clean up. Your generosity made this gathering possible. We’re so glad you were part of this beloved Saint Clement tradition, and we look forward to gathering again next year!
Lent also calls us outward in love. Through Lenten Almsgiving, we are invited to live out our faith fearlessly by caring for our neighbors in need and supporting ministries that embody Christ’s mercy. This Lent, we invite you to support Mission of Our Lady of the Angels (MOLA) food delivery program. Each week MOLA delivers food and other necessities to more than 300 homebound seniors and people with disabilities. Many rely on these deliveries as their main source of food, care, and connection. Your almsgiving will bring comfort, dignity, and hope to our most vulnerable neighbors.
Together, these shared moments of joy, service, and generosity draw us closer—to one another and to God.
A Fearless and Faith-filled Beginning to Our Lenten Journey: Ash Wednesday and Parish Mission
We were humbled and inspired by the incredible turnout on Ash Wednesday. We welcomed over 4,000 people throughout the day, creating a meaningful and prayerful start to Lent. It is an inspiring and beautiful sign of faith as so many gathered to begin this sacred journey with this humble tradition.
Additionally, we'd like to thank the more than 325 parishioners who joined us for our Parish Mission. It was a powerful time of prayer and encounter, led by Matt Maher, who reminded us that fear is a deeply human experience—but one that can draw us back to God in trust. We were left with the question: Where is God saying to you, “Do not be afraid”? and invited to bring that into prayer, especially in moments of silence and Adoration. As the mission continued, we reflected on how the movement from fear to faith begins with trust—trust that grows through surrender and daily gratitude.
This Lent, we invite you to stay in that movement: to keep showing up in prayer, to receive the sacraments, and to notice where God is inviting you to trust Him more deeply. Let us walk this season together—laying down our fears and resting in the mercy that makes us fearless.
Experience the Heart of Our Faith: Holy Week and Easter at Saint Clement
During this sacred time, Christians, in special ceremonies and through centuries old rituals, commemorate the words and actions of Jesus' final week before his crucifixion and resurrection. It’s a week where some of the most touching moments of Scripture and music combine to help us walk with Jesus and his disciples through his death and resurrection.
MARCH 29 - PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD
Regular weekend schedule, with palms distributed at all Masses.
Processional starting in the courtyard at the following Masses: 11:15 a.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m.
MARCH 31 - HOLY TUESDAY
Holy Week Reconciliation Service - following 6:00 p.m. Mass until 8:30 p.m.
APRIL 1 - HOLY WEDNESDAY
Tenebrae - 7:00 p.m.*
During Tenebrae, confessions will be heard.
APRIL 2 - HOLY THURSDAY
Mass of the Lord's Supper - 7:00 p.m.*
Prayer Services - 9:00 a.m. & 9:00 p.m.
(Church is open until midnight for prayer)
APRIL 3 - GOOD FRIDAY
Morning Prayer Service - 9:00 a.m.
Stations of the Cross - 12:15 p.m.
Liturgy of the Lord's Passion - 3:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.*
APRIL 4 - HOLY SATURDAY
Morning Prayer Service - 9:00 a.m.
Easter Basket Blessing - Noon
Easter Vigil - 8:00 p.m.*
APRIL 5 - EASTER SUNDAY
8:00 a.m. Mass - Church
9:30 a.m. Mass - Church, Chapel, & School
11:15 a.m. Mass - Church*, Chapel, & School
4:30 p.m. Mass - Church
*also livestreamed
