Lent is one of the most beautiful seasons of the Church year. During Lent, we grow closer to our Lord through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
To help you get the most out of the season, check out the resources from the Diocese of Nashville below, including information on Penance services, Stations of the Cross, Fish Fries, and Lenten Retreats.
Lenten Regulations
The following Lenten times of penance are in accordance with the Code of Canon Law for the Latin Church and with the directives of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. These regulations bind all Latin Rite Catholics of the United States of America except as noted:
- All are obliged by law to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, March 2, 2022, all Fridays of Lent, and Good Friday, April 15, 2022, from the age of 14 years throughout life. The law forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, the products of milk, or condiments made of animal fat.
- All are obliged by law to fast – limiting oneself to one full meal and two lighter meals in the course of the day – on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, from the day after their 18th birthday until the day after their 59th birthday. The combined quantity of food at the two light meals should not exceed the quantity of food taken at the full meal. The drinking of ordinary liquids does not break the fast.
- All are generally obliged to do penance during the entire season of Lent. In addition to fast and abstinence, the obligation may be discharged by other good works, such as voluntary abstinence, prayer, self-denial, almsgiving and acts of charity.
Penance Services
MARCH
22 Tuesday
St. Matthew, 7 p.m., 535 Sneed Road West, Franklin, 615-646-0378.
Our Lady of the Lake, 7 p.m., 1729 Stop 30 Road, Hendersonville, 615-824-3276.
23 Wednesday
St. Luke, 6-8 p.m., 10682 Old Nashville Highway, Smyrna, 615-459-9672.
24 Thursday
St. Philip, 5-7 p.m., 113 Second Ave., S., Franklin, 615-794-8588.
Holy Family Church, 7 p.m., 9100 Crockett Rd, Brentwood, 615-373-4696.
28 Monday
St. Edward, 7 p.m., 188 Thompson Lane, Nashville, 615-833-5520.
30 Wednesday
St. Luke, 6-8 p.m., 10682 Old Nashville Highway, Smyrna, 615-459-9672.
31 Thursday
St. Philip, 5-7 p.m., 113 Second Ave., S., Franklin, 615-794-8588.
APRIL
6 Wednesday
St. Luke, 6-8 p.m., 10682 Old Nashville Highway, Smyrna, 615-459-9672.
7 Thursday
St. Philip, 5-7 p.m., 113 Second Ave., S., Franklin, 615-794-8588.
8 Friday
St. Catherine, 6:30 p.m., 1024 Faulkner Springs Road, McMinnville, 931-304-8259.
Stations of the Cross
Cathedral of the Incarnation, 2015 West End Ave., Nashville, Mass and Stations 12:10 p.m. March 25, April 1, 8; and 3 p.m. April 15
Christ the Redeemer, 1515 Woodland Dr., Centerville, 6 p.m. March 24, 31, April 7
Church of the Assumption, 1227 Seventh Ave. N., Nashville, 6 p.m. March 25, April 1, 8 in Father Bernard Hall Chapel
Church of the Nativity, 2793 Buckner Road, Spring Hill, 6 p.m. March 25, April 1, 8
Holy Family, 9100 Crockett Road, Brentwood, 7 p.m. March 25, April 1, 8; and 3 p.m. April 15
Holy Family, 431 Old Highway 52, Lafayette, 3:30 p.m. in English and 6 p.m. in Spanish March 25, April 1, 8
Holy Name, 521 Woodland St., Nashville, 6 p.m. March 25, April 1, 8; and 5 p.m. April 15
Holy Trinity, 610 Kimmins St., Hohenwald, 5 p.m. March 23, 30, April 6, 13
Immaculate Conception, 709 Franklin St., Clarksville, 6 p.m. March 25, April 1, 8
Our Lady of the Lake, 1729 Stop 30 Road, Hendersonville, 6:30 p.m. March 25, April 1, 8; 4 p.m. Live Stations of the Cross in Spanish April 15
St. Ann, 5101 Charlotte Ave., Nashville, 5:30 p.m. March 25, April 1, 8
St. Andrew, 829 Valley View Drive, Sparta, 6 p.m. March 25, April 1, 8
St. Catherine of Alexandria, 1024 Faulkner Springs Road, McMinnville, 6 p.m. in English and Spanish March 25, April 1, 8; and Living Stations of the Cross 4 p.m. April 15
St. Christopher, 713 W. College St., Dickson, 7 p.m. March 25, April 1, 8, 15
St. Edward, 188 Thompson Lane, Nashville, 5:30 p.m. March 25, April 1; and 6 p.m. April 8 (presented by the sixth-grade students)
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, 755 Highway 49, Tennessee Ridge, noon March 25, April 1, 8
St. Frances Cabrini, 300 S. Tarver Ave., Lebanon, 6:30 p.m. in English and 7:30 p.m. in Spanish March 25, April 1, 8
St. Henry, 6401 Harding Road, Nashville, 7 p.m. March 25, April 1, 8
St. John Vianney, 449 N. Water St., Gallatin, 6 p.m. March 25, April 1, 8
St. Martha, 3331 Bell St., Ashland City, 4:30 p.m. March 25, April 1, 8
St. Matthew, 535 Sneed Road, W., Franklin, 6 p.m. March 25, April 1, 8; and 3 p.m. April 15
St. Patrick, 175 St. Patrick St., McEwen, 6:30 p.m. March 25, April 1, 8
St. Patrick, 1219 Second Ave., Nashville, 5 p.m. March 25, April 1, 8
St. Pius X, 2800 Tucker Road, Nashville, 2:30 p.m. (St. Pius X Classical Academy students) and 6 p.m. March 25, April 1, 8
St. Philip, 113 Second Ave., Franklin, 6:30 p.m. March 22, 25, 29, April 1, 5, 8, 12
St. Rose of Lima, 1601 N. Tennessee Blvd., Murfreesboro, 7 p.m. March 25, April 1, 8
St. Stephen Catholic Community, 14544 Lebanon Road, Old Hickory, 7 p.m. March 25, April 1, 8;
St. Thomas Aquinas, 421 N. Washington Ave., Cookeville, 6 p.m. March 25, April 1, 8
(If your church is not listed, check with the church office.)
Fish Fries
Christ the King
March 25 and April 8
For more information about times, pricing and a QR code for payments, visit ctk.org.
Church of the Nativity
2793 Buckner Lane, Thompson’s Station
March 25, April 1, 8
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Menu: Fried and baked fish, French fries, hush puppies, coleslaw and a light dessert.
Cost: Adults $10, Children $6, Maximum Family Price $35
Holy Family Church
9100 Crockett Road, Brentwood
March 25, April 8
4:30 – 6 p.m. and 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Parish Hall
Menu: Fried and baked fish, French fries, hush puppies, and mac & cheese
Cost: $15/individual or $40/family. To purchase tickets, visit holyfamilycc.com
Sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 15234 and the Holy Family Men’s Club
Holy Rosary Church
Bishop Pius Miles Hall, 3129 McGavock Pike, Nashville
March 25, April 1, 8
Mass at the Bishop Pius Miles Hall Chapel at 6 p.m., Dinner at 7 p.m.
Catfish dinner $11; Red Snapper Dinner $13.50 (please RSVP to 615-883-4972); Shrimp Dinner $11; Cheese Pizza Dinner $6.
Sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 4972.
Immaculate Conception Church
709 Franklin St., Clarksville
March 25, April 1, 8
5-7 p.m.
Family Life Center
St. Anthony Church
1900 Huntsville Highway, Fayetteville
April 8
5-7 p.m.
St. Anthony Catholic Faith Formation Center
Sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 12598
St. Edward Church
188 Thompson Lane, Nashville
March 25
6-8:30 p.m.
St. Edward School cafeteria
Sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 9586
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church
755 Highway 49, Tennessee Ridge
March 25, April 1
4:30-7 p.m.
Menu: Catfish, coleslaw, beans, hush puppies, French fries, drink and a dessert
Proceeds will benefit the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church renovation project
St. Frances Cabrini Church
300 S. Tarver Ave., Lebanon
March 25, April 1, 8
5-6:30 p.m.
St. Frances Cabrini Parish Hall
Menu: Fried catfish fillets, French fries, coleslaw, beans, hush puppies, drinks and dessert
Cost: Adults $15, children 12 and under $10
Sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 9787
St. Henry Church
6401 Harding Road, Nashville
April 1
5-7 p.m.
Dine-in or carryout in the Fellowship Hall
Menu: One-half pound of tilapia fish, French fries, onion rings, coleslaw, macaroni & cheese and hush puppies
Cost: Adult $10, Children under 12 $5, Family Pack $35.
For more information, email kofc12012@gmail.com or visit sthenryknights.com
Sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 12012
St. Ignatius of Antioch Church
601 Bell Road, Antioch
March 18, April 1
5-7 p.m. Stations of the Cross at 7 p.m.
Dine-in or takeout
Menu: Fried cod or baked tilapia, French fries, hush puppies, white beans, coleslaw.
Cost: $10 per plate. Tickets will be pre-sold. Call the church office at 615-367-0085 ext. 21 to order the number of plates needed
Sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 8354
St. Joseph Church
1225 Gallatin Pike South, Madison
April 1
5-7 p.m.
St. Joseph School cafeteria.
Menu: Fish, coleslaw, hush puppies, French fries, white beans, mac & cheese, pizza
Cost: Adults $12, children under 10 $7, family $40
Sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 3763
Proceeds will benefit the St. Joseph School Tuition Assistance Fund
St. Martha Church
3331 Bell St., Ashland City
Lenten Soup Suppers on April 1
6:15 p.m.
Cost: free
St. Matthew Church
535 Sneed Road West, Franklin
April 8
5:30-7:30 p.m.
All orders will be delivered curbside with the option to dine-in at the Cohan-Hansom Building
Menu: Two pieces of fried catfish, hush puppies, French fries, and coleslaw
Cost: $10. Orders must be placed online ahead of time. To place your order for the March 4 Fish Fry, please visit bit.ly/smcfishfry.
Sponsored by the St. Matthew Men’s Club
St. Patrick Church
175 St. Patrick St., McEwen
April 8
Menu: Fish, drink, French fries, coleslaw, white beans, hushpuppies
Cost: Two-piece dinner $12; three-piece dinner $15
St. Philip the Apostle Church
113 Second Ave. South, Franklin
April 8
Parish Community Center
Dine-in or takeout with drive-by pick up
Menu: Fish, French fries, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, hush puppies
Cost: $12 per plate. Order online at StPhilipFranklin.com/knights
Sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 7764
St. Rose of Lima Church
601 N. Tennessee Blvd., Murfreesboro
March 25, April 1, 8
5-7 p.m.
Drive thru. Pickup will be on the Stonewall side of the Church. Follow the one-way around the school and pick up at the Knights of Columbus Tent.
Menu: Fried fish, French fries, hush puppies, white beans, coleslaw
Cost: Donations only
Sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 4563
St. Stephen Catholic Community
14544 Lebanon Road, Old Hickory
March 25, April 1, 8
4:30-7 p.m.
Dine-in in the Social Hall or drive-thru
Menu: Baked or fried fish, French fries, hush puppies, onion rings, coleslaw
Cost: $12 per person
Sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 9282
Lenten Retreats
St. Henry
St. Henry Church will host a Lenten parish retreat March 21-23, featuring author and speaker Jim Ryan.
The topics for each night of the retreat will be: “Simple Happiness: Eight Characteristics of Happy People” on Monday, March 21; “Managing Thought: The Key to Experiencing God’s Love” on Tuesday, March 22; and “Start to Live Heaven on Earth” on Wednesday, March 23.
All three sessions will be held 7-8 p.m. in the church.
St. Philip
St. Philip the Apostle Church in Franklin will host a Lenten parish mission March 20-22.
The theme of the mission will be “To Praise, To Bless, To Preach,” which is drawn from the mandate of every Dominican. St. Dominic was convinced that the focus of every follower of the Gospel is to always and everywhere speak and live what Jesus taught. The only way that we can do this is to praise, to bless and to preach.
The mission will be held both in English and in Spanish with presentations at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 20, and Monday, March 21, and a bilingual Taize prayer service at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 22.
Father Brian Gualalupe Walker, OP, a Dominican priest based in Chicago, is the primary speaker each evening. Father Dexter Brewer, pastor of Christ the King Church in Nashville, will also speak during the Monday session.
St. Ann
St. Ann Church and the Nashville Chapter of Regnum Christi will host a 40 Hours of Adoration from March 25-27 to pray for the priests of the Diocese of Nashville.
The 40 Hours of Adoration will begin on Friday, March 25, with Stations of the Cross at 5:30 p.m. and the opening Mass and procession immediately following.
From there, adorers from across the diocese are invited to make holy hours until 11 a.m. Sunday, March 27, when the devotion concludes with a Solemn Mass and benediction.
To sign up for a holy hour to learn more about the devotion or Regnum Christi, visit saintannparish.com/vac.
Cathedral of the Incarnation
Rediscovering God’s Plan – For Our Lives, Lenten Mission
March 23 & 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Cathedral, Fleming Center, 2015 West End Ave., Nashville.
Led by Dr. Ryan Hanning.
Info: mdoyle@cathedralnashville.org.
Wednesday: The Four Forgotten Truths, Building habits for lasting happiness. Thursday: Becoming the Virtuous Men and Women God Made Us to Be.
