In the Missal, on the page where the prayers for today’s Mass are located, there’s a note: We can wear rose vestments, music can be bolder, flowers can be placed at the altar. I might be reading those lines, but you should be experiencing the sounds and sights of this halfway point in Lent, sights, and sounds that tell us to rejoice on our journey to Easter.

Two musical opportunities come to us this week, two chances to deepen our appreciation of Lent— especially as we draw closer to the celebration of the Lord’s passion, death, and resurrection in Holy Week.

First, this Wednesday, as part of the Road to Resurrection series, we welcome The Vigil Project to St Lawrence at 7 p.m.  And we invite you and our area Catholic community to reflect, pray, and sing with this contemporary musical ensemble.

Secondly, next Sunday at 4 p.m.we will once again celebrate the Tenebrae, a service of darkness and light drawing us into Passiontide (those last two weeks of Lent that particularly focus on Christ’s suffering and death). You’ll hear readings from the Passion. You’ll listen to music modern and ancient. Our seminarian Andrew McCarroll will preside and offer a reflection.

Please, take advantage of these beautiful chances to enrich our Lenten experience.