Lenten mission at St. Olaf Parish

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BOUNTIFUL — St. Olaf Parish in Bountiful will host a Lenten parish mission March 19-23.

Titled “Living a Eucharistic Life,” the event is intended to increase the desire for Eucharistic living, worship and prayer.

The mission is a chance for the parish “to regroup and re-energize after the past few years of dealing with the pandemic,” said Deacon Scott Dodge, who is helping organize the event.

The restrictions that had been in place due to the pandemic have been eased, and “while it is still necessary to be cautious, the clouds are starting to lift,” he said. “Generally, the idea of a parish mission is not a self-contained event but one that gives impetus and energy to our mission, which we are sent forth to engage in at the end of each Mass.”

The main presenter will be Father John Thomas Lane, SSS, a vowed religious presbyter of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament who is no stranger to the Diocese of Salt Lake City: He was the diocesan director of liturgy from 1992 to 1996.

The event helps fulfill the wish of Father Andrzej Skrzypiec, St. Olaf pastor, to offer this type of spiritual growth for his parish community.

Fr. Skrzypiec wanted to have a Lenten mission last year, but because of the pandemic was unable to, Deacon Dodge said.

Then, at the diocesan deacons’ retreat last fall, Deacon Dodge discussed the idea of a parish mission with Fr. Lane, who was the keynote speaker at that retreat.

“After further discussion, Fr. Andrzej felt the time, the message and the messenger were right,” Deacon Dodge said.

The title of the Lenten mission reflects St. Olaf Parish’s way of starting the Eucharistic Revival that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is calling for in 2022. In the Diocese of Salt Lake City, Bishop Oscar A. Solis is working with the priests to plan events to deepen devotion to and knowledge of the Eucharist.

“As a parish, everything we do should begin and return to the Eucharist,” Deacon Dodge said. “Having a member of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament leading a mission, in which St. Peter Julian Eymard – the ‘Apostle of the Eucharist’ – features prominently is a great way to put this idea into bold relief.”

St. Peter Julian Eymard is the founder of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, to which Fr. Lane belongs.

The five-day parish mission will start with Fr. Lane preaching at the weekend Masses March 19-20. On Monday, Mass will be at 6 p.m., followed by Taizé prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and Eucharistic Adoration, asking for the intercession of St. Peter Julian Eymard.

On Tuesday, there will be a novena to St. Peter Julian Eymard with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

The mission’s final day, Wednesday, will feature a healing Mass with Anointing of the Sick.

In addition to the evening events, during the day Fr. Lane will visit different classes at St. Olaf School and “celebrate, along with Fr. Andrzej, a Penance service for the young people. He will also spend time with our growing and very well-run youth group,” Deacon Dodge said.

Everyone in the diocese is invited to attend the parish mission to help increase the desire for the Eucharist.