The Cathedral of Saint Thomas More News:

Read Father Posey’s Guide for Lent

February 12, 2026

My dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

As we enter this sacred season of Lent, I invite you to join our Saint Thomas More community in embracing these forty days as a time of renewal, reflection, and deeper encounter with Christ. Lent offers each of us a unique opportunity to slow down, refocus our hearts, and rediscover the beauty of a life rooted in prayer and love.

In a world filled with constant noise and digital distraction, I encourage you to carve out intentional moments of quiet, both for yourselves and your family. Stepping away from screens, even briefly, creates space for meaningful conversation, shared prayer, and the simple joy of being present to one another. For parents, these small acts of togetherness often become the memories that shape a child’s understanding of faith, family, and love.

This season also invites us to make thoughtful Lenten resolutions and to follow through with them in a spirit of perseverance. Your example, your witness of prayer, sacrifice, and charity, speaks volumes to others in our daily lives. When they see your love for Jesus Christ lived out in daily choices, they can be inspired to deepen their own love for God.

May this Lent be a time of grace for your family and may the peace of Christ draw each of you closer to Him. I have included some suggestions to help you have a fruitful and spiritually enriching Lenten season.

A few things you can do now:

  • Sign up for Formed https://formed.org/ to receive daily Lenten reflections. (Click on Sign in and then “Sign In or Create an Account”; Sign In with your email and
    password. Click “Next”. First time user: Enter Code from email; Select your parish with our zip code (22203);
    Set up a password
  • Sign in to the Hallow app to participate in daily Lenten reflections.
  • Participate in our Lenten Morning of Prayer on March 7, beginning with Mass at 9:00 followed by discussion

God bless. Fr. Posey

“CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O LORD”

Ways to Make Lent Spiritually Fruitful

  1. Choose one or two simple, realistic commitments. Overloading yourself with resolutions usually leads to
    discouragement. Small, steady steps often bear the most fruit. Instead:
    Pick one habit to give up that distracts you from God; Pick one habit that nourishes your soul.
  1. Make prayer a daily anchor Lent is a perfect time to deepen your prayer life in ways that feel natural: Consistency matters more than length.
  • Begin or end the day with a short prayer of gratitude.
  • Pray a decade of the Rosary with your family.
  • Spend a few minutes in quiet before God, even if it’s just sitting in silence.
  • Participate in Adoration, Evening Prayer and Confessions at the Cathedral
  • Abstain from meat on Fridays
  • Put on your calendar to participate in the Tridium
  1. Step away from screens. This is especially powerful for families: Presence is one of the greatest gifts you can give.
  • Share meals without devices.
  • Take a walk together and talk about your day.
  • Read Scripture or a saint’s story with your children.
  1. Practice acts of charity—big or small. Lent isn’t only about sacrifice; it’s also about love in action: Mercy transforms hearts.
  • Offer kindness to someone who needs encouragement.
  • Donate to a charity or support a parish initiative.
  • Teach your children to notice people who might feel left out or lonely.
  1. Attend Mass or confession more often

If possible, consider adding a weekday Mass or visiting the church for quiet prayer. Confession during Lent can be a powerful reset for the soul. Attending Mass and receiving the Lord through Communion gives you the graces needed to keep on the path to eternal glory. When we stand without titles, position, or money, before the judgment seat of God, let us pray that we will hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant, come enter the kingdom which I have promised to those who believe.”

  1. Reflect on Scripture and Read Spiritual Books Even a few verses a day can open your heart: Let God speak to you through His Word.

The Gospels; The Psalms; The Passion narratives during Holy Week; Google USCCB Daily Readings Reflections; The Spiritual Legacy of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, by Fr. Charles P. Connor; Life of Christ, by Fulton Sheen; Roman Pilgrimage: The Station Churches, by George Weigal; Walking with God, A Journey Through the Bible, by Tim Gray and Jeff Cavins; Jesus of Nazareth- Holy Week: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection, by Pope Benedict XVI; Confession, by St. Augustine; Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis

  1. Make your home feel like a Lenten space. Simple touches can help everyone stay focused: These visual reminders gently guide the heart.
  • A prayer corner
  • A crucifix placed where you’ll see it often
  • A family Lenten calendar or sacrifice jar