Lent

At Newman Parish, we strive to be a center of charity and a sanctuary of mercy, especially for those who feel unwelcomed or unseen. No matter where you are in your faith journey, you are welcome here. Rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, our Service & Justice ministries invite parishioners to live the Church’s social mission and respond faithfully to the needs of our world.

We encourage you to take part in our regular service opportunities—Loaves & Fishes Soup Kitchen, Newman Night at The Food Bank, the Interfaith Garden, and support for St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Charities, and other charitable partners—as well as our seasonal initiatives like our parish Lenten Project (detailed below). Regardless of how you choose to participate, every act of Service and Justice makes a difference.

“Every stranger who knocks at our door is an opportunity for an encounter with Jesus Christ, who identifies with the welcomed and rejected strangers of every age.” (Pope Francis, 2017 Message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees).

Lent invites us into conversion of heart—a season to encounter Christ through intentional acts of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. This year, Newman’s Lenten Project centers on our call to uphold the dignity of every human person, with special attention to refugees and immigrants in our community. In a time marked by fear, civil unrest, and political polarization, the Church calls us to respond with compassion for those who seek safety, belonging, and hope. We invite you to join us in lifting up our immigrant neighbors by participating in our parish Lenten Project in support of City of Refuge. Click here to donate now.

Since 2010, City of Refuge has worked tirelessly to serve and empower refugees (and other newcomers) as they navigate a new life in mid-Missouri, providing wraparound services such as relational care, education, and development. To ensure City of Refuge can continue this critical work in Columbia amid federal funding cuts, we are asking parishioners to contribute $10,000 towards their fundraising campaign. In addition to supporting their fundraising campaign, we are also collecting items on the City of Refuge Basic Needs Supply List (Amazon Wishlist) as part of our monthly personal care collection for February and March.

Ways to Participate in the Lenten Project: 

• Prayer: Pray for immigrants and refugees in our community and around the world, for those separated from family, and for leaders and policymakers to act with wisdom and compassion. 

• Fasting: Fast from fear, judgment, or indifference, making room to listen, learn, and respond with mercy. 

• Almsgiving: Support City of Refuge through designated collections or fundraising efforts, and participate in volunteer opportunities that serve immigrants and refugees.

Ready to serve? Upcoming opportunities for Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving—including details about the Lenten Project for City of Refuge—are now available alongside our other volunteer links. Click here to access all of the Newman Service & Justice opportunities.

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