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.
Step Boldly Into Your Lenten Journey:
Ash Wednesday & Parish Mission
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, inviting us into a sacred 40-day journey of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—a season that prepares our hearts for the joy of Easter and the Resurrection of Christ. We gather to receive ashes on our foreheads, a humble reminder of our humanity and our return to God: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Yet the ashes also proclaim a deeper truth: we belong to God and to one another, united as a community wrapped in His mercy. As we receive this sign, we step into Lent with courage—fearless in the mercy that meets us here. Join us as we begin this season of renewal and grace.
Ash Wednesday - February 18
7:00 a.m. Mass without music
12:15 p.m. Mass without music
5:00 p.m. Mass with music
7:00 p.m. - Church & Chapel - Masses with music
9:00 p.m. Compline (Night Prayer) - Service with choir, music, ash distribution
Ash Distribution will be available throughout the day beginning at 7:30 a.m. in between scheduled Mass times. Ash distribution outside of Mass will conclude 15 minutes before the start of the liturgy, and continue once the service has concluded.
Private Devotion: The Little Black Book
Additionally, to accompany you on your personal journey, the Little Black Book for Lent will be available to all adults. This daily devotional offers thoughtful reflections and prayers to help you experience God’s mercy and grow fearless in faith throughout these forty days.
Parish Mission led by Matt Maher — February 19 & 20
Lent invites us to return—to turn our hearts again toward Jesus and place our trust more fully in Him. We begin this sacred season with a Parish Mission led by Matt Maher, award-winning Christian singer & songwriter, introducing our Lenten theme, Fearless: Wrapped in His Mercy. The mission invites us through music, prayer, and reflection to trust more fully in Christ—where fixing our eyes on Him frees us from fear and reveals God’s mercy.
As a parish community, we gather to begin these forty days together, learning once again what it means to follow Jesus with trust, courage, and open hearts. Additional Parish Mission details, including opportunities for adoration, confession, and communal prayer, will be shared soon.
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 4:00-5:00 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 Week Reconciliation 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 (begins Feb. 25), where accomplished leaders share wisdom and witness about living with integrity, purpose, and courage in today’s world. 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.
Women are invited to our series—Fearless Women: A Lenten Journey of Courage and Faith (begins Mar. 3). This four-week experience moves from personal reflection to shared witness, Scripture, and sacramental life—rooting courage in the heart of our Catholic faith. 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.
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. Join us for fun and fellowship at our Lenten Fish Fry & Bingo Night (Mar. 6), a joyful (and tasty!) gathering for all ages. Experience beauty and inspiration at Concerts Under the Dome (Feb. 28), featuring La Caccina’s Hildegard Redux, a stunning celebration of Hildegard von Bingen’s legacy and influence on contemporary composers.
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.
Together, these shared moments of joy, service, and generosity draw us closer—to one another and to God.
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.
Further details and full schedule coming soon.
March 29 - Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
March 31 - Holy Tuesday - Reconciliation Service offered following 6:00 p.m. Mass
April 1 - Holy Wednesday - Tenebrae. Opportunity for confessions during the service
April 2 - Holy Thursday - Mass of the Lord’s Supper
April 3 - Good Friday - Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion
April 4 - Holy Saturday - Daytime - Easter basket blessing; Evening - Easter Vigil
April 5 - Easter Sunday - Christ is Risen, Alleluia!
