Saintly Madness
2021
This Lent Our Lady of Grace Parish invites you to participate in a learning process that is as inspirational as it is fun. Lent is a sacred time of prayer and preparation and what better way to prepare than to reflect on the Saints and their passion and commitment to living their faith and following God’s will. If we can follow their lead and demonstrate Christ’s love in our lives, we will transform our own community.
OLG’s Saintly Madness is patterned roughly after “March Madness”, the NCAA basketball tournament that sends millions of fans into a frenzy. Similarly, in Saintly Madness, 32 saints are placed into a tournament-like single elimination bracket all “competing” for the Halo of Grace.
So how do you join in the action? You can choose to submit a bracket for the competition or just reflect on the Saints throughout Lent.
1. Bracket Submission
Submit one completed bracket (include your name and phone number/email in the space at the bottom of the bracket) of your predictions of who will win each round and ultimately the Halo of Grace. All brackets must be completed and dropped off into the boxes in the foyer of the Church or by emailing your completed bracket to office@olgsa.net on or before March 1. Note you cannot fill out your bracket on-line. The bracket closest to the parish voting over Lent will win the earthly “Halo of Grace” and a prize. (Note the CCD classes are competing for the class Halo of Grace).
2. Online Voting
On line voting for your favorite Saint will be available on the Our Lady of Grace Website at http://www.olgsa.org beginning February 27. (Please only one vote per pair, per person!) Each pairing on the bracket will occur the day indicated on the bracket link. For instance, the first pairing (St. Juan Diego v. St. Bernadette of Lourdes) will occur February 27th. 16 Saints make it to the Pious Sixteen; 8 advance to the Blessed Eight; and 4 make it to the Saintly Four; 2 to the Championship; and the winner is awarded the Our Lady of Grace Halo of Grace. Basic biographical information for each Saint is on the website, and you are strongly encouraged to do your own research about each of these worthy Saints. From time to time we will post additional information as well. Please do not submit a paper ballot if you vote online.
3. Paper Voting
If you would rather participate by paper ballot, you can vote after the weekend masses using the ballots furnished in the Church foyer. Study up, because you will be voting on all the pairings of the week as follows: