Sunday, Feb. 24, is the Third Sunday of Lent (Year A, Cycle II)

On Ash Wednesday, Pope Benedict XVI renewed a tradition stretching back more than 1,500 years when he dispersed ashes on pilgrims gathered in the “station” Church of Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill. His Lenten visits to the Parishes of Rome bring him today to Santa Maria Liberatrice at Monte Testaccio in Rome for 9 a.m. Mass.

Epriest.com offers “Best Practices” from parishes.

Father Lance Harlow at St. Charles Church in the Diocese of Burlington, Vt., offers a way to increase Marian devotion. He wanted to find an organizing principle that would lead to a deepening of the practice of the faith in his parish. He didn’t want a flash in the pan, but something that would last — and outlive him. So he developed a parishwide Montfortian consecration to Jesus through Mary, and has seen a notable increase in confessions, parishioner involvement in parish social life and more. Find details at EPriest.com — there’s still time to implement it for May, the month of Mary.

FamiliaUSA.net offers “Next Sunday Ideas” for families. For this week’s Gospel reading about the woman at the well, it offers a project that requires refrigerator magnets, Styrofoam cups, yarn, glue, construction paper and paper clips to make your own Jacob’s well. The website explains how. Kids draw religious symbols which they pull up from the well to learn about “living water.”

Exodus 17:3-7; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9; Romans 5:1-2, 5-8, John 4:5-42

EPriest.com offers free homily packs for priests

Today’s Gospel, about Christ’s meeting with the Samaritan woman at the well, is rich with lessons on how to evangelize.

First, Christ respects the woman’s freedom. When we say we want to “evangelize” someone, we often mean we want someone to stop being who they are and be who we want them to be. Christ doesn’t treat people that way. He recognizes the woman for who she is, but offers her a positive way to become more.

Second, Christ speaks in the woman’s language about a real need the woman feels. Too often, our efforts to tell other people about Christ fail to recognize their interests. Christ uses the circumstance of the well to make an analogy to what he has to offer her.

In our case, what the people we meet have in common with us are neighborhood-related, child raising-related or work-related concerns. We should show them how faith can enrich these aspects of their life.

Third, Christ doesn’t condemn the woman — rather, he leaders her to a place where she can see the error of her own ways. This is important. Not only do we frighten people away from us by being judgmental, we deny them the opportunity to truly repent.

The harder way, the respectful way, is the only way that works.

Finally, for all the respect he gives to the sinner, he doesn’t flinch from the hard truths. He tells her who he is, and leads her to a reform of life. We have all probably the quote commonly attributed to St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the Gospel always. When necessary, use words.”

We need to do the same thing — both living as a witness and also realizing that it is often necessary to use words.

The Hoopeses are

editorial directors of

Faith & Family magazine (faithandfamilymag.com).

Family Schedule

For Lent, consider a schedule like this (see Jan.20-26 Sunday Guide):

Sunday — Family day: Pilgrimage, museum or hike.

Monday — Parent meeting or Family meeting

All week — Pray together nightly (family Rosary)

Friday — Game night or parents’ date night

Saturday — Family project day / read aloud night

5 Love Languages

For Lent, try practicing Gary Chapman’s The Five Love Languages (see the Jan. 27-Feb. 2 Sunday Guide):

Words of affirmation

Quality time

Giving gifts

Acts of service

Physical touch