To put it simply, we are all so busy or at least we think we are so busy that it might be difficult to find time to think about who we are in terms of our strengths and weaknesses, our drives and personalities, our habits and values. Besides, many of us just do not spend much time on self-reflection or personal prayer.  Even when we are given honest and open feedback we avoid doing anything about it because isn't always what we want to hear. Consequently, many of us have a pretty low level of self-esteem. Self-awareness can improve our judgment and help us identify opportunities for personal development and decision making.

Self-Awareness or interiority is the ability to have a clearer perception of your personality, including strengths, weaknesses, thoughts, and beliefs. Self-Awareness allows you to understand other people, how they perceive you, your attitude and your responses to them in the moment.  Self-awareness is what led St. Augustine toward his conversion of mind and heart.

As you develop the art of self-awareness, interiority and discernment you are able to make changes in your life that are well thought-out and positive, promoting spiritual growth. Self-awareness is the first step in creating what you want to become by allowing it to be a gateway to prayer and discernment. It can provide you the opportunity to look prayerfully inward while recognizing the positive effects that it can have on your attitude.

Lent is that time of the year when we can provide ourselves with a variety of opportunities to become more self-aware and prayerfully engage in mediation, mindfulness and devotional opportunities that can become a constructive part of our everyday life far beyond the Lenten season.  Join us for any of all of the Lenten activities.  A great way to begin this process of self-awareness or disclosure is by celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation. A first step in the process of learning about yourself!  

Sunday Mass
St. Thomas of Villanova Church
7:30AM, 10:30AM, 5:30PM, 7PM, 9PM

Saturday Night Vigil Mass
Corr Chapel 
5:30PM 

Daily Mass
Corr Chapel 
12:05 & 5:30PM
Monday through Friday

Sacrament of Reconciliation
St. Thomas of Villanova Church  
3:30–4:30PM—Tuesdays & Wednesdays

Rosary (student led) 
Corr  Chapel 
5PM—Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Evening Prayer
Corr Chapel
5PM—Tuesday & Thursday

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Monastery Chapel 
11:30AM–1:30PM
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 

For Weekends:

No Saturday 5:30 pm Mass: February 28, March 7, April 4
No Sunday 5:30 pm Mass: March 1, March 8, April 5
No Sunday 7:00 pm Mass: April 5
No Sunday 9:00 pm Mass: March 1, April 5
(The weekend Mass schedule to the summer schedule – 7:00 pm Sunday only – the weekend of May 10).

For Daily Mass:

No 12:05 pm Mass: April 2, April 3, April 6, May 15
No 5:30 pm Mass: March 2 – March 6, April 1 – April 3, April 6

Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross (or the Way of the Cross) refers to a series of artistic representations, very often sculptural, depicting Christ carrying the cross to his crucifixion in his final hours, and to devotions commemorating the Passion, often moving physically around a set of stations. The vast majority of Roman Catholic churches contain such a series, typically placed at intervals along the side walls of the church. The devotions may be done at any time, but are most commonly done during the Season of Lent.

The Stations of the Cross originated in pilgrimages to Jerusalem. A desire to reproduce the holy places of Jerusalem in other lands seems to have manifested itself at quite an early date. During the 15th and 16th centuries the Franciscans began to build a series of outdoor shrines in Europe to duplicate their counterparts in the Holy Land.

The object of the Stations is to help the faithful to make a spiritual pilgrimage of prayer through meditating upon the chief scenes of Christ's suffering and death. It has become one of the most popular devotions for Roman Catholics, and is often performed in a spirit of reparation for sin. 

During Lent 2015, Stations of the Cross will be held in the church on Wednesdays at 7:30PM (there will be no Stations of the Cross on Ash Wednesday):

February 25
Led by the Campus Ministry Interns

Campus Ministry interns will offer contemporary reflections at each station. Reflections will be written by staff of various offices and departments throughout the University. 

March 4
Led by the Parish Community of St. Thomas of Villanova

St. Thomas of Villanova Parish representatives and members of the Parish Council will lead Everyone’s Way of the Cross this evening. The stations will include intentions for various forms of healing.

March 11
Led by the Liturgical Council

Members of the Liturgical Council will offer reflections that focuses on Jesus’ actions in his Passion and relating them to our everyday life. The reflections help us ponder the question “how do we meet the challenge of the cross in our life?”

March 18
Led by the Augustinian Pre-Novices

This devotion is not limited to the walls of the Church. Tonight, we walk the Way of the Cross around campus. Using the Stations of the Cross as celebrated by St. John Paul II in 1991, we reflect on the needs of the world, the needs of our campus community, and our own personal needs.

March 25
Led by Villanova University Pastoral Musicians

Reflections on Christ’s Passion in word & song with excerpts taken from Mozart’s Requiem.

April 1
Led by the Parish Community of St. Thomas of Villanova

As we move closer to the Easter and the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation, Stations of the Cross will be led by the Parish RCIA team and those being initiated into the Catholic Church during the Easter Season.

Ash Wednesday
February 18, 2015, 8:30AM Morning Prayer, 12:05PM Mass, 3PM Ecumenical Service, 5:30PM Mass, and 7PM Mass.  All liturgies will be held at St. Thomas of Villanova Church and will include distribution of ashes. Mass will also be celebrated in Rm 102 in the Law School at 12:05PM.

Daily Mass
in Corr Chapel, 12:05PM & 5:30PM Monday— Friday & Wednesday at 12:10PM in the Law School Chapel.

Sunday Masses
are at 7:30AM, 10:30AM, 5:30PM, 7PM and 9PM in the church.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Monday, Wednesday, Friday in the Monastery Chapel from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM. 

Rosary
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 5 PM in Corr Chapel.

Evening Prayer
Tuesday and Thursday at 5 PM in Corr Chapel.

Meditation & Centering Prayer
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:30PM – 1PM and Wednesdays at 8:30 – 9AM in St. Rita’s Community Room.

Breaking Open the Word
Wednesday at 3–3:45PM in St. Rita’s Community Room.  Join us in reflecting and praying with the upcoming weekend’s Scriptures.

Sacrament of Reconciliation
Every Tuesday & Wednesday at 3:30 to 4:30PM and every Wednesday evening during Lent from 6:30 to 7:30 PM in the Church or by appointment in Campus Ministry beginning February 24.

Stations of the Cross
Every Wednesday during Lent at 7:30PM in the Church beginning February 25–April 1.  Stations will be held by different groups each week.

Prayers for Peace
every Monday from 4:30 – 5PM in the St. Rita’s Lower Level Lounge.

Lent 2015—Daily Reflections by Our Villanova Community—printed copies available in Corr Chapel, Campus Ministry, St. Thomas at Villanova Church or online at http://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/mission/office/publications/reflections/lent.html

                                                            (* see Campus Ministry website for liturgy over break)