In the final episode of Extraordinary Time: Lent 2026, Bishop John S. Bonnici shares a message of Easter joy with the faithful of the Diocese of Rochester.

To view the video version of Bishop Bonnici's reflection: https://youtu.be/T9MkYS-1nv4

Extraordinary Time is a podcast from the Catholic Courier, the newspaper of the Diocese of Rochester. For more Extraordinary Time, visit https://catholiccourier.com/podcasts/ and stay up-to-date with Holy Week resources from the Catholic Courier at https://catholiccourier.com/special-sections/lent-and-easter/

Credits:

Special Guest: Bishop John S. Bonnici.

Links:

• Bishop Bonnici's video reflection

In episode 7, Don Smith, coordinator of sacramental catechesis and family life for the Diocese of Rochester, helps us prepare for the Easter Triduum with an explanation of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and the Easter Vigil. Smith explains that he finds it helpful to understand both the totality of how the three days flow into one another, as well as the individuality of each specific day’s traditions and rituals.

For Holy Week and Easter Masses in Monroe County: https://catholiccourier.com/articles/2024-holy-week-and-easter-masses-in-monroe-county/

For the Catholic Courier's Lenten section (which includes the seven-part series on Jesus' Seven Last Words on the cross): https://catholiccourier.com/special-sections/lent-and-easter/

Extraordinary Time is a podcast from the Catholic Courier, the newspaper of the Diocese of Rochester. For more Extraordinary Time, visit https://catholiccourier.com/podcasts/ and stay up-to-date with Holy Week resources from the Catholic Courier at https://catholiccourier.com/special-sections/lent-and-easter/

Credits:

Special Guest: Don Smith.

In the sixth episode of “Extraordinary Time” season three, Sister of St. Joseph Donna Del Santo leads an imaginative contemplation of a pair of Gospel readings for Palm Sunday. Imaginative contemplative prayer, also known as Ignatian contemplation, invites the participant to use their imagination and senses to enter a Gospel story. Sister Del Santo is the vocations director for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester.

For the text of the readings and Gospel for March 29, 2026: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032926.cfm

For the Catholic Courier's Lenten section (which includes the seven-part series on Jesus' Seven Last Words on the cross): https://catholiccourier.com/special-sections/lent-and-easter/

What Palm Sunday means: https://catholiccourier.com/articles/what-palm-sunday-means/

Extraordinary Time is a podcast from the Catholic Courier, the newspaper of the Diocese of Rochester. For more Extraordinary Time, visit https://catholiccourier.com/podcasts/ and stay up-to-date with Holy Week resources from the Catholic Courier at https://catholiccourier.com/special-sections/lent-and-easter/

Credits:

Special Guest: Sister Donna Del Santo, SSJ.

In Episode 5 of “Extraordinary Time” season 3, Father Edison Tayag, pastor of St. Patrick Church in Victor, offers a reflection on the Gospel reading for the fifth Sunday of Lent, which in 2026 recounts the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Father Tayag notes that this miracle previewed Jesus’ own resurrection from the dead, an event that forever changed the understanding of the meaning of death for those who believe in Him.

For the text of the readings and Gospel for March 22, 2026: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032226.cfm

For the Catholic Courier's Lenten section (which includes the seven-part series on Jesus' Seven Last Words on the cross): https://catholiccourier.com/special-sections/lent-and-easter/

Extraordinary Time is a podcast from the Catholic Courier, the newspaper of the Diocese of Rochester. For more Extraordinary Time, visit https://catholiccourier.com/podcasts/ and stay up-to-date with Lenten resources from the Catholic Courier at https://catholiccourier.com/special-sections/lent-and-easter/

Credits:

Special Guest: Father Edison Tayag.

Sister of Mercy Theresa Rutty reflects on the Gospel reading for March 15, 2026, the story of Jesus healing a blind man on the Sabbath to the Pharisees’ chagrin. Sister Rutty discusses the concept of the “freedom of the children of God” and what freedom truly means in this context.

For the text of the readings and Gospel: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031526.cfm

For the Catholic Courier's Lenten section (which includes the seven-part series on Jesus' Seven Last Words on the cross): https://catholiccourier.com/special-sections/lent-and-easter/

Extraordinary Time is a podcast from the Catholic Courier, the newspaper of the Diocese of Rochester. For more Extraordinary Time, visit https://catholiccourier.com/podcasts/ and stay up-to-date with Lenten resources from the Catholic Courier at https://catholiccourier.com/special-sections/lent-and-easter/

Credits:

Special Guest: Sister Theresa Rutty, RSM.

Deacon Jim Fien of St. Rita in Webster offers a reflection on the reading for March 8, 2026, which tells of Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well. Deacon Fien reminds us that Lent is an opportunity for us to quench our deeper thirst for the things of God.

For the text of the readings and Gospel: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030826.cfm

For the Catholic Courier's Lenten section (which includes the seven-part series on Jesus' Seven Last Words on the cross): https://catholiccourier.com/special-sections/lent-and-easter/

Extraordinary Time is a podcast from the Catholic Courier, the newspaper of the Diocese of Rochester. For more Extraordinary Time, visit https://catholiccourier.com/podcasts/ and stay up-to-date with Lenten resources from the Catholic Courier at https://catholiccourier.com/special-sections/lent-and-easter/

Credits:

Special Guest: Deacon Jim Fien.

Father Patrick Connor, pastor of Ss. Isidore and Maria Torribia Parish in the Diocese of Rochester, reflects on the readings for March 1, 2026. He notes that the Lenten season, with its mix of joy and pain, allows us to mirror Christ’s disfiguration and transfiguration, followed by our ultimate redemption through His death and resurrection.

For the text of the readings and Gospel: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030126.cfm

Extraordinary Time is a podcast from the Catholic Courier, the newspaper of the Diocese of Rochester. For more Extraordinary Time, visit https://catholiccourier.com/podcasts/ and stay up-to-date with Lenten resources from the Catholic Courier at https://catholiccourier.com/special-sections/lent-and-easter/

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Special Guest: Father Patrick Connor.

In the first episode of season 3 of Extraordinary Time, Bishop Salvatore R. Matano, current apostolic administrator for the Diocese of Rochester, shares how Lent provides us with 40 days of imitating Christ.

Ash Wednesday readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021826.cfm

Learn more about church’s rules for Lenten fasting, abstinence: https://catholiccourier.com/articles/learn-more-about-churchs-rules-for-lenten-fasting-abstinence-2/

For a list of Ash Wednesday Masses and services, visit

Lenten Friday Fish Fry Dinners: https://catholiccourier.com/articles/fish-fry-dinners/

Extraordinary Time is a podcast from the Catholic Courier, the newspaper of the Diocese of Rochester. For more Extraordinary Time, visit https://catholiccourier.com/podcasts/ and stay up-to-date with Holy Week resources from the Catholic Courier at https://catholiccourier.com/special-sections/lent-and-easter/

Credits:

Special Guest: Bishop Salvatore R. Matano.

Extraordinary Time is the Catholic Courier‘s seasonal podcast for the church’s liturgical seasons. The third season of the podcast — Advent 2026 — will accompany listeners through Lent with weekly Scriptural reflections.

Episodes will feature the insights of priests, deacons, women religious and others from around the Diocese of Rochester.

The first episode of Lent 2026 will launch on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, and episodes will be released each Wednesday through April 1. There will also be a special Easter episode on April 5.

To learn more about the Extraordinary Time podcast and other Catholic Courier podcasts:

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In the final episode of season two of Extraordinary Time, Bishop Salvatore R. Matano of the Diocese of Rochester reflects on the gift of peace through Christ among us.

Special Guest: Bishop Salvatore R. Matano.