SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
GREENWOOD Locus Benedictus, Healing Retreat, Saturday, April 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., presented by Maria Vadia; Mental Well-being and Trust workshop, Sunday, April 10 2-4 p.m., presented by Michael Whelan, Ph.D.; God’s Love Retreat, Saturday, May 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. presented by the Locus Benedictus ministry team. Details: email contactlocusbenedictus@gmail.com or call (662) 299-1232.

NATCHEZ You are Enough and Beloved Women’s One Day Retreat, Saturday, March 26 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mass at the St. Mary Basilica O’Connor Family Life Center. Cost is $10 and includes continental breakfast, snacks and lunch. Retreat will address many of the struggles experience over the past two years. Come for a day to rediscover or discover that you are enough and very beloved. Retreat facilitated by Carrie Lambert and overseen by Ruth Powers. Please RSVP. Details: (601) 455-5616 or youth@stmarybasilica.org.

PARISH, FAMILY AND SCHOOL EVENTS
BROOKHAVEN St. Francis, White Elephant Sale on April 2 by the Knights of Columbus. No clothing. Details: church office (601) 833-1799.

CLEVELAND Our Lady of Victories, Lenten Lunch prepared by parish on Wednesday, March 9 at First United Methodist Church. Details: To help, please call Mary Helen Waller, (662) 721-2855.

FLOWOOD St. Paul, Stations of the Cross every Friday during Lent at 6 p.m., followed by a fish dinner prepared by the Knights of Columbus in the Family Life Center. Details: church office (601) 992-9547.

JACKSON Cathedral of St. Peter, Mardi Gras Social, Tuesday, March 1 at 5:30 p.m. in the Cathedral Center. Bring a party food to share. The Knights of Columbus will provide Mardi Gras beads. Details: church office (601) 969-3125.

JACKSON 40 Days for Life, March 2 – April 10. Gather on the sidewalk outside of Jackson Women’s Health Organization at 2903 N. State Street in Jackson. Vigil held 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Details: office@prolifems.org or call (601) 956-8636, ext. 1.

MADISON St. Francis, Fat Tuesday Parish Pancake Supper, March 1 from 5:15-7 p.m. Everyone is invited to feast before the Lenten fast. Pancakes, sausage and drinks will be prepared and served by youth group. Cost $5/person or $15/family is suggested. Details: church office (601) 859-5556.

MERIDIAN St. Patrick School, Spirit Night at Raising Canes Meridian on Fat Tuesday, March 1 from 4-9 p.m. A percentage of sales will be donated to the school.

St. Patrick, Parish Mission, March 7-9. Each evening the mission will begin at 6 p.m. in St. Patrick Church. The featured speaker is Father Clem. Details: church office (601) 693-1321.

NATCHEZ St. Mary Basilica, Save the Date: Blood Drive on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, from 1-5:45 p.m. Blood donors are desperately needed. Online scheduling begins in April. Details: church office (601) 445-5616.

St. Mary Basilica, Fish Fry, The Knights of Columbus will hold their annual Lenten Fish Fry each Friday of Lent, beginning March 4 from 5-7 p.m. at the Family Life Center. Catfish dinners $12; shrimp dinners $12; combo dinners $14. Dinners include fries, hush puppies and coleslaw. Details: church office (601) 445-5616.

YOUTH BRIEFS
FLOWOOD St. Paul, Big Deal Youth Group will host Meatless Meal after 6 p.m. Ash Wednesday Mass on March 2. Join them for food and fellowship in the Family Life Center. Donations accepted for future youth events. Details: church office (601) 992-9547.

SEARCH retreat for juniors and seniors, April 1-3, at Camp Wesley Pines in Gallman. Retreat is “for teens, led by teens” and is an experience like none other; with a strong focus on vocations. SEARCH engages youth in a special way and calls them to live out their Catholic faith in a bold real, active and healthy way. Cost $125. Details: abbey.schuhmann@jacksondiocese.org.

SAVE THE DATE
YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST A parish mission on the Eucharist and the Mass is available in the diocese at two locations this Lent. Father Aaron Williams will offer a three day mission at St. Mary’s Basilica Natchez from March 8-10 and at Immaculate Heart of Mary Greenwood from March 27-29. All sessions will begin at 6 p.m.

LENTEN NOTE
Ash Wednesday begins the Lenten Season. Prepare yourself with meditation and reflection. The Lord’s life during this period of His life brings us together for the salvation of humanity. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence. Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.

FASTING: The norms of fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. The law of fasting allows only one full meal a day, but does not prohibit taking two smaller meals for keeping up strength, but those two meals combined must still be smaller than the full meal.

ABSTINENCE: Catholics 14 years of age and older are obliged to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Fridays of Lent and Good Friday; unless health is an issue.