By Matthew Gambino • Posted March 3, 2017

Parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will provide a special time for prayer this Lent through the 24 Hours for the Lord initiative that Pope Francis first called for last year.

Participating Catholic churches will open their doors for a period of 24 hours, Friday night through Saturday, March 24-25. During this time the clergy and faithful will have the opportunity to pray before the Blessed Sacrament, reserved in the tabernacle or exposed in the monstrance.

See an interactive map of archdiocesan parishes participating in 24 Hours for the Lord, and learn more information about it here.

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Traditionally parishes offer additional devotions such as the stations of the cross during Lent, in addition to communal rosary, Divine Mercy or other devotions and Scripture study groups, plus confessions and daily Mass. See the complete list of parishes in the archdiocese to find a Catholic church near you. Also see CatholicPhilly.com’s Calendar of Events for more parish activities coming up soon.

Lent is a good time for more frequent reception of the sacrament of penance, or reconciliation.

If it has been some time since your last confession, you can return to the sacrament with confidence using this guide from the archdiocesan Office for Divine Worship.

Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are three pillars of traditional Lenten practice. Review the rules on abstaining from meat and fasting on certain days here.

Two of many ways to make a sacrificial gift to charity are CRS Operation Rice Bowl, the Catholic Relief Services program for supporting the needy overseas and here at home; and the 2017 Catholic Charities Appeal, the main annual fundraiser for dozens of ministries in the Philadelphia Archdiocese.

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More resources for Lent are available from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, whose Lent 2017 calendar features daily inspiration on how to “give up” material things, including food, superfluous to one’s basic needs; “take up” charitable habits directed to helping and caring for others; and “lift up” those in need through giving alms, prayer and participation in devotional practices.

See more information and resources on the calendar here.

If you’re in your car or sitting by your radio at home, Relevant Radio’s Drew Mariano will host the Chaplet of Divine Mercy every weekday at 4 p.m., offering prayer, uplifting stories and answers to faith questions. Relevant Radio can be heard locally on 640 AM.

Although there are many areas of the archdiocese that do not receive the Relevant Radio signal at this time, anyone can listen via streaming audio via a free mobile app, which can be downloaded here.