Third Sunday of Lent
MARCH 8, 2026

GROWING IN FAITH QUESTIONS

Adults: Am I aware of my spiritual thirst? How so? 

Teens: Jesus knew everything about the woman — her
mistakes, her past, her loneliness — and still chose her.
Do you believe God sees the real you and still wants a
relationship with you? Why or why not? 

Children: Jesus knows everything about each of us, the
good bad and the ugly. Are there things you wish he
didn’t know? What can you do about those things?  

Today's Psalm Response: "If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts."

THIS WEEK'S BULLETIN

THIS WEEKEND'S LAY MINISTERS

Focus

Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar.... Jacob's well was there [and] Jesus...sat down there at the well. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." The Samaritan woman said to him, "How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?" Jesus answered and said to her, "…Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst...."

One-Minute-Homily

> OBSERVE. We all long for acceptance and love, which is to say we long to be known and accepted and valued.  In the absence of love and acceptance we will settle for attention, and we will sometimes cheat, lie and steal to get it, but attention never satisfies our desire to be loved. 

> LEARN. In this week's Gospel, Jesus recognizes the Samaritan woman at the well as a real person, in spite of the fact that she is an alien, a woman--and a sinner. He promises her "living water"--a symbol of God's unconditional love and acceptance.

> ACT. The Gospel challenges us, first, to believe that God knows us and loves us unconditionally in spite of our human imperfection and sin. Secondly, it challenges us to believe that God loves every other human being in the same way, which is how we should value them as well, whatever their faults.

> REMEMBER. “The Body of Christ” -- the Eucharist names us for who we are; it is the living expression of God's unconditional acceptance and love. The challenge, as St. Augustine said, is to become what we are.

For Additional Reflection or Discussion

> Question for Children: Do you ever feel like you don't belong?  How do people help you feel like you are welcome?

> Question for Youth: Teenagers often feel like they don't "fit in;" how do you help others feel accepted and welcome?

> Question for Adults, Families and Faith Communities: What's the biggest challenge about accepting others, even those who are different? 

Learn More

• Read Sunday's readings here

• Read a commentary on Sunday’s readings here

• Learn more about the cultural context of the Gospel

• Reflect on an image for Sunday's Gospel here:

• Hear the Gospel from a Third World perspective

(compiled by Dave Cushing)

Second Sunday of Lent
MARCH 1, 2026

GROWING IN FAITH QUESTIONS

Adults: What distracts me away from God? 

Teens: Where is Jesus asking you to step out of your comfort zone this week — even if it’s hard, awkward, or unpopular? What would “listening to Him” actually change in your daily life right now?

Children: God tells us to listen to Jesus. What is one
way you can listen to Jesus better during Lent?

THIS WEEK'S BULLETIN

Focus
Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. ...[A] bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."

One-Minute-Homily
> We all need something to keep us going when times get tough -- something to look forward to and to hope for, a vision of better times.  We need to know that beyond the tough times, pain and suffering, better times are coming.
> In this week's Gospel, Jesus reveals himself to the disciples in all of his divine glory and the Father confirms that they can place their trust in him.  It was this experience that would sustain them and give them hope in the difficult days which Jesus knew lay ahead.
> Lent reminds us that we are imperfect and sinful people, living in a world where there is much sadness, pain and suffering. The promise of Easter and Resurrection, the promise of the Kingdom and better times – what Christians call the “Paschal Mystery” -- is sometimes all we have to give us hope.
> The Eucharist is "food for the journey," but also a living sign of Jesus in all his Resurrected glory.

For Additional Reflection or Discussion
> Question for Children: What do you hope for when you are sad or afraid?
> Question for Youth: What is your vision for the future?  How does your faith help sustain you in tough times?
> Question for Adults, Families and Faith Communities: Where do we find hope in tough times?  How do we provide hope for those who are suffering?

Learn More
• Read Sunday's readings here
• Read a commentary on Sunday’s readings here
• Learn more about the cultural context of the Gospel
• Reflect on an image for Sunday's Gospel here
• Hear the Gospel from a Third World perspective

(compiled by Dave Cushing)

First Sunday of Lent
FEBRUARY 22, 2026

GROWING IN FAITH QUESTIONS

Adults: How is the devil testing me today? 

Teens: What choices are hardest for me to make the
right way, and how can my faith help me choose what’s
right when it’s not easy? 

Children: Sometimes people make bad choices because
they think they will get something good from it. For
example, someone might steal candy from the store
because they think they will get to eat the candy. Bad
choices are still bad choices and not right. How do you
stop yourself from making a bad choice when it seems  
like a good idea?  

THIS WEEK'S BULLETIN

Focus
At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert.... The tempter approached and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread." Jesus said in reply, "...One does not live on bread alone...." Then the devil...made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down...." Jesus answered him, "...You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test." Then the devil...showed him all the kingdoms of the world...and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me." At this, Jesus said to him, "Get away, Satan! It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve."

One-Minute-Homily
> OBSERVE.  In our effort to validate individuals and their freedom, we seem to have lost the ability to distinguish between opinions and actual facts--between what is true and what people wish was true.  In the realm of “fake news,” you can claim anything as a fact.
> LEARN.  The devil is the master of “fake news.”  In this week's Gospel, we see the Evil One tempting Jesus with various untruths about himself and his mission--all of them inviting perhaps, but not true to the Lord's identity or mission.
> ACT.  The devil tempts us in the same way.  We are challenged as disciples of Jesus to distinguish between what is true and what we wish was true -- to recognize the ways in which we are being deceived or are deceiving ourselves and others about what is good and bad, right and wrong, helpful or hurtful.
> REMEMBER.  Our search for the truth begins with the words of the Creed which we confess at Sunday Mass.  This is our antidote to “fake news.”

For Additional Reflection or Discussion
> Question for Children: Why do people tell lies?  Why do you lie?
> Question for Youth: Becoming an adult means discovering the person that we are, and learning to share it with others.  Are you tempted to pretend not to be the person you are?  
> Question for Adults, Families and Faith Communities: In what ways, and for what reasons, do we deceive ourselves and others about who we are, what we value, and why we act the way we do?

Learn More
• Read Sunday's readings here
• Read a commentary on Sunday’s readings here
• Learn more about the cultural context of the Gospel
• Reflect on an image for Sunday's Gospel here
• Hear the Gospel from a Third World perspective

(compiled by Dave Cushing)

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
FEBRUARY 15, 2026

GROWING IN FAITH QUESTIONS

THIS WEEK'S BULLETIN

Focus

Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.... You have heard that it was said...You shall not kill;...But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment. You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all. Let your Yes mean Yes, and your No mean No. Anything more is from the evil one."

One-Minute-Homily

> OBSERVE. We can make rules that regulate how people act (when they're being watched), but we can't rely on rules to change how people think, feel, value or desire.  In the end, as is fairly obvious in our society today, no law can make people love each other, respect each other, or care about others.

> LEARN. In this week's Gospel, Jesus exposes the shortcoming of the law.  He says God does not want people who just follow rules and laws; God wants people who have changed what they value and what they desire -- being right with God and each other in our hearts.

> ACT. Real conversion happens in the heart. There is always a temptation to be satisfied with following the law, to look like we’re doing what we’re supposed to do.  But to be genuine Christians, to be at-right with God and one another, we are always being challenged to desire what God desires.

> REMEMBER. The Eucharist is about the personal relationship we experience with Jesus and with each other; those relationships are rooted in our hearts, not in the law.

For Additional Reflection or Discussion

> Question for Children: Do you ever ignore a rule if no one is watching?

> Question for Youth: How do you experience the conflict between your desire for freedom and the rules people expect you to follow?

> Question for Adults, Families and Faith Communities: Are we content to follow and enforce the law? Or do we struggle to change our desires and support others who are struggling to change their desires?

Learn More

• Read Sunday's readings here

• Read a commentary on Sunday’s readings here

• Learn more about the cultural context of the Gospel

• Reflect on an image for Sunday's Gospel here

• Hear the Gospel from a Third World perspective

(compiled by Dave Cushing)

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
FEBRUARY 8, 2026

GROWING IN FAITH QUESTIONS

Adults: Am I a Light of Christ? In what ways? 

 
Teens: In what situations is it hardest for me to let my faith “shine,” and what might it look like to be the light of Christ there anyway? 

Children: What is one kind, caring thing you did this week that helped you be like Jesus for someone else? 

THIS WEEK'S BULLETIN

Focus
Jesus said to his disciples: "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?.... You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lamp stand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."

One-Minute-Homily
> OBSERVE. We live in a world that in many ways seems dangerous and threatening.  As a result, many of us develop a natural tendency to preserve, protect and defend ourselves and what is "ours". Taken to an extreme, this tendency becomes dangerous to both ourselves and others.
> LEARN. In this week's Gospel, Jesus uses three examples to stress the point that Christians do not have to save, protect or hide what God has given us.  We are the salt of the earth, a city shining on the mountain side, a lamp glowing on the lamp stand. We must share God's gifts freely and openly.
> ACT. The challenge to us, as both individuals and as faith communities, is to stop hoarding the love, mercy and grace which God has shared so generously with us.  What we have been given is meant to be shared.  We can risk being vulnerable because, as they say, God has our back.
> REMEMBER. We should experience the Eucharist as a living encounter with God's generosity and vulnerability, not something which has to be preserved, protected or hidden.

For Additional Reflection or Discussion
> Question for Children: Do you have certain things you want to keep for yourself instead of sharing with others?
> Question for Youth: Adolescence is a fragile time; do you have people or things you are protective about and find hard to share with others?
> Question for Adults, Families and Faith Communities: In what ways are we hoarding, preserving or protecting what God has given us?  What makes us afraid to share what we have been given?

Learn More
• Read Sunday's readings here
• Read a commentary on Sunday’s readings here
• Explore the cultural context of the Gospel
• Reflect on an image for Sunday's Gospel here
• Hear the Gospel from a Third World perspective

(compiled by Dave Cushing)