Lent in Schenectady

All are welcome to come and join in our Lenten observances at Holy Name of Jesus. Located at 1040 Pearl Street in Schenectady.

Ash Wednesday

We begin Lent Wednesday, March 5th with Holy Mass along with the blessing and imposition of Ashes at Noon and 7pm.

Stations of the Cross

Journey along with Jesus as we pray through the Stations of the Cross every Friday at 3pm.

Bitter Lamentations / Gorzkie Żale

A sung devotion originating in Poland in the 18th century. The devotion is a reflection and meditation on the Passion of Christ from the perspective of and through the sorrows experienced by the Blessed Virgin Mary. The devotion consists of a three-part cycle. One part of the cycle is held on each Sunday at 3pm. The entire devotion is sung on Good Friday.

Sunday Holy Mass

Come join in weekly worship every Sunday at 10am or Noon. Jesus’ community gathers each week to learn about His life and mission, His teachings, and to show Him proper worship. We also have weekly School of Christian Living classes for children and youth. Investigate the claims of Jesus with us as we strive to grow into His image. Whether you are working, studying or living in the Schenectady area or throughout New York’s Capital Region, we look forward to welcoming you.

Lenten Retreat

We will hold a Lenten Retreat for local parishes and open to all on Saturday, April 5th starting at 11am.

Lenten Charity

The practice of Lent motivates us to expand our charity towards our brothers and sisters. Holy Name is participating in a Directed Giving program for Lent. Food and gathered items are delivered to Schenectady area food programs:

Our Directed Giving Program suggested offerings:

  • Ash Wednesday Week, Mar. 5-8, LET’S DO LUNCH Tuna and Mayonnaise, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Soup and Crackers.
  • 1st Week of Lent, Mar. 9-15, FEELING FRUITY Canned Peaches, Pears, Fruit Cocktail, Pineapple or Applesauce, 100% Juice in Cans.
  • 2nd Week of Lent, Mar. 16-22, VEGGIE MANIA Canned Corn, Canned Peas, Canned Beans, Canned Potatoes, Canned Sweet Potatoes.
  • 3rd Week of Lent, Mar. 23-29, DINNER IS SERVED Canned Beef Stew, Canned Pork and Beans, Instant Potatoes/Stuffing Mix, Macaroni and Cheese, Spaghetti or other Pasta, Canned Spaghetti Sauce.
  • 4th Week of Lent, Mar. 30 — Apr. 5, SCHOOL NEEDS Pencils and Pens, Folders and Notebooks, Crayons, Tape and Elmer’s Glue.
  • Passion Week, Apr. 6-12, BABY MAKES THREE Disposable Diapers, Baby Wipes, Liquid Formula, Jars of Baby Food.
  • Holy Week, Apr. 13-19, SPECIAL NEEDS DIET Low Sodium Soups, Canned Fruit in Juices (not syrup), Canned Tuna in Water, Low Sodium Crackers, Natural Applesauce.

Fast and Abstinence

During Lent we also abstain from meat on Wednesdays and Fridays. This small practice of denial helps us in regulating our minds and bodies. We need to practice for all endeavors, whether sports or hobbies. So too spiritually. If we practice small denials we are better prepared to reject things that are truly harmful to us.

Bible Study for the End of Pre-Lent and the Start of the Great Lent 2025

This week’s memory verse: Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience — Colossians 3:12

  • 3/2 – Philippians 4:8
  • 3/3 – 2 Peter 1:5-8
  • 3/4 – Galatians 5:22-23
  • 3/5 – James 1:5
  • 3/6 – Romans 12:1
  • 3/7 – Ephesians 4:25-32
  • 3/8 – Matthew 5:48

Pray the Week: Lord Jesus, You call me to change so I might become the image You have for me, Your very image here and now. Grant that I be a genuine representation of You and in word and deed draw many into the Kingdom. Amen.

Bible Study for the 2nd Pre-Lenten Week 2025

This week’s memory verse: And to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. — Ephesians 4:24

  • 2/23 – Genesis 1:27
  • 2/24 – Romans 8:29
  • 2/25 – 1 John 3:1-3
  • 2/26 – Psalm 139:14
  • 2/27 – Ephesians 2:10
  • 2/28 – 2 Corinthians 3:18
  • 3/1 – Hebrews 11:6

Pray the Week: Lord Jesus, You call me to be Your image in my life and among all I encounter. Grant that I be a genuine representation of You and in word and deed draw many into the Kingdom. Amen.

Reflection for Sexagesima Sunday 2025

“Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

Welcome to the second week of this Pre-Lenten season.

The Holy Church gives us this season so we might not jump into the Great Lent unprepared, but ready for a spiritual journey of transformation. What we are at the end of Lent needs be quite different from what we are now.

This season is akin to the stretching exercises an athlete does before they head out onto the track. This season of stretching ourselves helps in preventing spiritual injury – regrets and disappointments – because we were unprepared for our Lenten walk.

Last Sunday I noted that God uses imagery so we might clearly understand His intent for us, the picture He envisions for us.

In our first reading we see David presented with an opportunity to get rid of Saul who wanted David dead. Saul and his army was in search of David for that very reason. Saul’s anger was motivated by jealousy. Yet, despite what would have been expedient, David did the faithful thing, refusing to kill Saul. 

David trusted that God would save him. David didn’t need to take matters into his own hands. We see a picture of faithful David on a bluff above the army holding Saul’s water jug and spear which made the point better than any other solution.

Which do we want for our self-vision? Will we be Saul, acting on negativity, assembling an army to do damage to another, or is our self-vision one of faithfulness and doing right even if the wrong is easier and speedier? How do we want God to see us as He looks at us?  Who do we want to present before God on the day we meet Him?

Jesus paints a strong picture of the people He wants with Him, the people He will welcome into eternity. He wants loving, forgiving, tolerant, and faithful followers. He wants the Church to be those who walk the long walk, take the hard road, and because they do are outstanding examples of what it means to be God’s children.

If we take this Pre-Lenten opportunity for reflection and for a re-evaluation of our self-vision, we take the first steps toward being true children of the Most High Who is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked, Who is merciful to all.

Jesus came to show us the road to life, and to remind us of what God desires we pursue. So let us set to work in meeting His vision for us and reap a full measure of blessings.

Bible Study for the 1st Pre-Lenten Week 2025

This week’s memory verse: You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you. — John 15:16

  • 2/16 – John 15:8
  • 2/17 – Philippians 1:6
  • 2/18 – 2 Peter 1:5-8
  • 2/19 – Matthew 3:8
  • 2/20 – Romans 7:4
  • 2/21 – Galatians 6:7-8
  • 2/22 – Psalm 1:3

Pray the Week: Lord Jesus, You call me to be Your image in my life and among all I encounter. Grant that I be a genuine and true representation of You and in word and deed to draw many into the Kingdom. Amen.

Reflection for Septuagesima Sunday 2025

Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD. He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream

Welcome to the start of this Pre-Lenten season of Septuagesima.

The Holy Church gives us this season of preparation so we might not jump into the Great Lent unprepared, but ready for a spiritual marathon through which we pray to be transformed. What we are at the end of Lent needs be quite different from what we are at its start.

Keeping up the sports analogies, this season is akin to the stretching exercises an athlete does before they head out onto the track. This season of stretching ourselves helps in preventing spiritual injury – regrets and disappointments – because we were unprepared for our Lenten walk.

I have begun today by drawing pictures for you. Certainly, you can mentally see an image of a marathon runner, an athlete preparing by stretching, and an athlete ill-prepared getting injured.

God uses imagery today as He has done throughout history in order that we might clearly understand His intent for us, the picture He envisions for us.

Consider our first reading. We can see a dead tree standing in the middle of a lava wasteland. That tree has no life and bears no fruit. What could be beautiful and life giving is useless and an occasion for sorrow.

Is that what we would want for our self-vision? Is that what we would want God to see as He looks at us?  Is that what we would want to present before God on the day we meet Him? Of course not!

But if we turn away from God, if He is not our first priority, if His work is somewhere down our list, we are doing our best to end up a dead tree.

Yet, if we take this opportunity for reflection, for a re-evaluation of our self-vision we take the first steps toward being that living and fruitful tree; not only living and fruitful, but also fully assured no matter what may come.

We can see ourselves as that living and fruitful tree when we stretch out our hands and arms in prayer to the God Who lives and is merciful. We live when we turn to God, do His work, and make Him our priority.

It all comes down to what we want to look like in presenting ourselves to God and how we get there. 

Jesus came to show us the road to life, and to remind us of what God desires we pursue. He paints a picture of life and glory for us. So let us now set to work in meeting His vision for us, a living and flourishing people.

Bible Study for the 5th Ordinary Week 2025

This week’s memory verse: But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine — Titus 2:1

  • 2/9 – 1 Timothy 4:14
  • 2/10 – Mark 16:15
  • 2/11 – Romans 12:1
  • 2/12 – Acts 6:6-7
  • 2/13 – Hebrews 1:14
  • 2/14 – Romans 12:6-8
  • 2/15 – Ezekiel 44:11

Pray the Week: Lord Jesus, You call me to minister in the gifts You have granted me. Help me in accomplishing Your work with conviction and courage and to go boldly before all as Your witness. Amen.

Reflection for the 5th Ordinary Sunday 2025

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me has not been ineffective. Indeed, I have toiled harder than all of them; not I, however, but the grace of God that is with me.

Throughout the Christmas and Epiphany seasons we focused our attention on God’s self-revelation. He came among us, born as a man in a stable in Bethlehem. He was revealed that night to the shepherds. He was proclaimed by Simeon and Anna in the Temple and subsequently to the world through the Magi. At His baptism He, along with the fullness of the Holy Trinity was revealed. At the wedding in Cana His might was shown.

As we complete this short stint in Ordinary Time, and head into Pre-Lent next week, we hear Jesus calling us to the job of revelation.

Jesus, speaking to Simon Peter and thus to us says: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

It seems like a daunting task because we interpret it through the experience of the Apostles who left everything and followed Him.

Yet this task, this call to ministry is not difficult nor is it just intended for a few among the faithful.

Having read the accounts of the Prophets and Kings, having read or listened to the stories of Jesus’ Apostles and disciples, and knowing the stories of the saints through the ages gives us a rather global view of all that happened. We try to absorb a whole life story and then attempt to compare it to ourselves, where we are in this brief moment.

That is why it is essential that we study the moment of calling and then walk as the called did, following Jesus and trusting in Him.

Jesus never laid out for His called an exact roadmap of all their moments and experiences. Rather He just issued the call because He, as God, knows us intimately. He knows the skills and abilities we possess – even if we do not know them.

Paul left who he was and trusted in God’s redeeming grace. Paul let God’s grace move him and look at all he accomplished. Simon, James, and John took a leap-of-faith and followed Jesus. All the saints did likewise. Those called to sacred ministry the same.

So, it must be for each of us, for every faithful person. While we cannot exactly know what lies on the road ahead, we can trust Jesus. While we may not know the skill within us that God will use, we can let Him use it through our hands, minds, feet, and voices. What we must do is trust like St. Paul in saying: His grace to me has not been ineffective.