5 Practical ways to serve your local parish during Lent

Often when Catholics think of Lent, we dwell on the penitential aspects of the liturgical season. We think of all the ways we can pray more or do extra penance during the 40 days of Lent.

Yet, that is only part of the equation. We are encouraged to be active in our almsgiving, not only giving money to the Church, but more importantly, giving ourselves in service.

This aspect of Lent tends to be the most difficult, as it means we have to get off our couch and drive over to our local parish or other service center.

While some of us might be homebound, or in bad health, most of us likely do not have anything that prevents us from serving others in a more active way.

Here are some practical ideas to encourage you to go out of your comfort zone and serve the Church in a simple way.

Many parishes across the United States have various traditions that involve soup suppers or weekly fish dinners. These tend to be social in nature, and always require a good deal of volunteers. If you don’t already volunteer at one, consider trying it this year.

In every parish there is a list of parishioners who are not able to leave their home, due to age or an illness. Typically a priest or deacon needs assistance in visiting these parishioners, even if it is to just chat and keep them company.

Perhaps there are elderly people who aren't homebound because family members are available to get them to Mass and other places. These family members are often in need of respite care. Staying with an elderly person so his or her family can do simple errands is a great way to serve.

With Lent falling during the Spring in the Northen Hemisphere, it is typically a time of year when the landscaping around the church could use some help. This is a good idea for those who do not like to talk to anyone else, and who just like to work.

While some priests are excellent cooks, many are not. And every priest is overly busy, regardless of his cooking skills! Lent would be a good time to cook a good meal or even bring over something from a local restaurant. It doesn’t have to be fancy, as priests don’t often have much time to prepare something for themselves.

Many city parishes have a large staff of full-time employees, but not all parishes have such luxuries, and rely on the help of volunteers. Help could even be as simple as stuffing the bulletins or organizing the hymnals in the pews.