Celebrating Liturgical Seasons
Growing by Experiencing the Feasts and Seasons of the Church Year

Lent Begins on Ash Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Click Here to Preview Lenten Resources

Ordinary Time is the liturgical period outside of the other liturgical seasons, and runs 33 or 34 weeks. In Latin, Ordinary Time is called Tempus Per Annum ("time throughout the year"). The season falls between Christmas and Lent, and between Easter and Advent, exclusive.

The Latin Tempus Per Annum ("time throughout the year") is rendered into English as "Ordinary Time." Many sources suggest that Ordinary Time is derived from the word ordinal, meaning "numbered," since the Sundays of Ordinary Time, as in other seasons, are ordered numerically.

However, other sources suggest the etymology of "Ordinary Time" is related to our word "ordinary" (which itself has a connotation of time and order, derived from the Latin wordordo). During other liturgical time periods, specific aspects of the mystery of Christ are celebrated. The days of Ordinary Time, especially the Sundays, "are devoted to the mystery of Christ in all its aspects."
Click here for more information on
​Ordinary Time.
​A Playlist for Epiphany

​The Epiphany season, also known as Epiphanytide, is in some churches recognized as a liturgical period following the Christmas season (Christmastide). It begins on the day of Epiphany, and ends at various points as defined by those churches.

​While Christmas music is easy to come by, and waiting songs are getting traction in many circles, there's little in the way of "official" Epiphany music. As a way of watching for the Light, Anam Cara Ministries has curated a list of luminescent songs for the season. To access it, click on this link or the image to the left.
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

On February 2, the Church celebrates the feast of the Presentation of the Lord which occurs forty days after the birth of Jesus and is also known as Candlemas day, since the blessing and procession of candles is included in the liturgy.
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According to the 1962 Missal of St. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is referred to as the "Purification of Mary." This is known as a "Christmas feast" since it points back to the Solemnity of Christmas. Many Catholics practice the tradition of keeping out the Nativity creche or other Christmas decorations until this feast.

Learn more about this feast at CatholicCulture.org.

​Catholic Schools Week

January 27 through February 2, 2019 is National Catholic Schools Week, the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. This year’s theme is “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.” ​
​Principles of Catholic Identity in Education articulates elements the Church expects to find in all Catholic schools and which distinguish them from other schools. The principles are derived from Church documents related to education, including the documents of Vatican II, documents from the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education, and the writings of various Popes.
 The five principles are: Inspired by Divine Mission; Models Christian Communion; Encounters Christ in Prayer, Scripture, and Sacraments; Integrally Forms the Human Person and Imparts a Christian Understanding of the World.

​Read an Overview of the Principles.