A Lenten Journey with Mary
By: Joanne Henning
This Lent, our small group, The Women at the Well, participated in a 46-day consecration retreat to the Blessed Virgin Mary using Mary’s Mantle Consecration by Christine Watkins. We began our journey on Ash Wednesday and completed it on Holy Saturday, entering deeply into the Lenten season through prayer, sacrifice, and community.
Each week, we met to watch the corresponding videos, share reflections, and discuss the daily readings. During the week, we each committed to:
· A short daily meditation on a virtue or gift of the Holy Spirit
· Praying a full Rosary
· Fasting one additional day per week with a prayer partner
On Easter Sunday, we each prayed a personal consecration or consecration of our families to our Blessed Mother in our homes.
Our final group meeting was dedicated to a special consecration of the Lakes Life Care Pregnancy Resource Center, a mission dear to many of us who currently serve or have volunteered there in the past. Entrusting the center to Mary was a powerful way to extend the fruit of our retreat beyond ourselves.
A highlight of our retreat was a handcrafted visual centerpiece: a beautiful cloth mantle created by group member Katie Laman. Each week, she added stars to represent the virtues and gifts we learned about one for each day of the 46-day journey. By the end of Lent, the mantle mirrored the stars found on Our Lady of Guadalupe’s tilma and will now serve as the heart of our gathering space moving forward.
As we look ahead, The Women at the Well are excited to continue growing in faith and fellowship. This summer, we’ll begin a new book study:
“The Hidden Power of Silence in the Mass: A Guide for Encountering Christ in the Liturgy.” We are grateful for the opportunity to walk this Lenten path together and invite others to join us in our continued journey of faith this summer.
Women at the Well
Location: Holy Family Room, Church of St. Peter
Meeting Dates: Starting on May 20th, 2025 and ending on August 26th, 2025. Meets every 2 weeks on Tuesdays at 6:30 - 8:00 pm.
Who: Adult Women (5 spots remaining)
Contact: Cindy Casey at (651) 249-8807 or cnccasey@gmail.com or Pam Trudeau at mptrudeau@outlook.com for more information.