ESOPUS — Following a successful Women’s Morning of Recollection on March 8 at Sacred Heart Church in Esopus, Presentation-Sacred Heart Parish invites all Catholics and seekers of God in good faith to a Lenten Evening of Recollection at Sacred Heart Church on Wednesday, March 12, at 6:30 p.m.

“With the theme of the Sacrament of Penance, we look forward to the conference by Father Thomas DeSimone on how to make a good confession and how to get the most out of the Sacrament of Penance,” announced Father Arthur Rojas, pastor of Presentation-Sacred Heart Parish. Sacred Heart Church is located at 1055 Broadway (Route 9W) in Esopus.

Father DeSimone is known to the parishioners of Presentation-Sacred Heart Parish due to previous events of recollection at both Presentation Church at Port Ewen and Sacred Heart Church at Esopus. Ordained in 2006, Father DeSimone is a classmate of Father Rojas. After Father DeSimone’s conference, he will hear confessions at Father Grohe Hall downstairs, where light refreshments will be served by the parish’s Women’s Society, while in the church upstairs Father Rojas will be available to help participants venerate the relics of various saints.

“We were happy to have dozens of women hear Father Marc Oliver on March 8, and we look forward to welcoming both men and women to Sacred Heart Church on March 12,” said Father Rojas. Although there is no charge to attend the event, free-will offerings would be most appreciated. There is no need to pre-register.

As part of the events of recollection sponsored by the parish, the Lenten Evening of Recollection will be followed by a Men’s Evening of Recollection on March 19 (St. Joseph’s Day) at 6:30 p.m. at Presentation Church, 209 Hoyt St., Port Ewen. There, Father George LaGrutta, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of New York and occasional Mass celebrant at Presentation Church, will preach specifically for men in the presence of the exposed Blessed Sacrament (solemn adoration and benediction) with opportunity for confessions, silent contemplation, and adoration of the Eucharistic Jesus.

“At our parish, we are trying to feed the spiritual hunger of both men and women in the Hudson Valley,” said Father Rojas. As with the preceding events, admission is free, although free-will offerings would be welcome. There is no need to pre-register.

Presentation-Sacred Heart Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of New York which serves the Town of Esopus from Presentation Church at Port Ewen and Sacred Heart Church at Esopus. Presentation Church is also the site of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Hudson.