U.S. bishops launch Lenten website, downloadable “radio retreats”

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has announced that it is offering Catholics a variety of resources for Lenten reflection and spiritual growth.

The resource website, located at www.usccb.org/lent , includes several versions of the Stations of the Cross, including an audio version, and a new series of “radio retreats” led by bishops in English and Spanish.

Information on fasting and abstinence, examinations of conscience to help prepare for the Sacrament of Penance, and a section on Holy Week observances are also featured on the website.  Site resources are arranged around the four pillars of belief outlined in the “United States Catholic Catechism for Adults”:  what we believe, what we celebrate, how we live, and how we pray.

The radio retreats, which focus on the scripture readings for each Sunday in Lent, were produced in association with Franciscan Radio.  Retreat host Elia Castillo opens each retreat with a greeting, followed by a singing of the Lord’s Prayer.  The bishop leading the retreat will give a homily, which is followed by a meditative song and a question-and-answer segment with the bishop.  The program concludes with a summary from the host and a blessing from the bishop.

Bishops conducting the English-language retreats include Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, Bishop Donald W. Trautman of Erie, Pennsylvania, Bishop J. Kevin Boland of Savannah, Georgia, Bishop Richard J. Garcia of Monterey, California and Bishop John M. D’Arcy of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana.  Bishop Daniel Flores, auxiliary bishop of Detroit, will give one retreat in English and one in Spanish.

The Lenten resources website was created by the USCCB Communications Department, while the U.S. Bishops’ Catholic Communications Campaign funded the radio retreats, the Stations of the Cross, the podcast of the readings, and the daily reflections.

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