Ash Wednesday

Dear Parishioners,

Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. It is the beginning od the Lenten Season. Lent is a time of penance, prayer, meditation and alms giving.

Through Penance, we realize God’s great mercy and out need for it. Prayer is our communication with the Lord, our relationship with Him. Meditation is pondering the mysteries of God and the purpose of the gift of life He has given us. Almsgiving is making ourselves more aware of the needs of others and offering assistance in the form of sacrifice and financial assistance.

Our world is in need of good, holy people to lead and guide by example. All of us are called to holiness and goodness. Through our knowledge and love for, and relationship with the Lord, we grow in holiness and goodness.

I hope we will take advantage of this Lenten Season to deepen our relationship with the Lord, to grow in holiness and goodness, and to take our proper place in the world as followers of our Savior, Jesus Christ, continuing to make His message and His name known to all by our example.

Please find the schedule for Ash Wednesday and the rules for Fast and Abstinence. I pray that Lent will truly be a time of grace for all of us.

God bless us all!
Fr. Citino

 

Fast and Abstinence and Other Acts of
Penance for Lent

The Bishops pf the United States prescribe, as minimal obligation, that all persons who are fourteen years of age and older are bound to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday, February 22 and on all the Fridays of Lent and Good Friday. Further, all persons eighteen years of age and older, up to and including their fifty-ninth birthday, are bound to fast by limiting themselves to a single full meal on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday, while the other two meals on those days are to be light.

All the faithful are encouraged, when possible, to participate at Mass and to receive the Holy Eucharist daily, to celebrate frequently the Sacrament of Penance, to undertake spiritual reading, especially the study of the Sacred Scriptures, and to participate in parish Lenten devotions as well as Lenten education programs.

All are encouraged to participate in Operation Rice Bowl which has aided countless hungry persons here in the Archdiocese as well as throughout our nation and our world.

A Lenten Morning Offering

Lord Jesus, You lived and died for me.
Help me to keep that thought before me today so that whatever
life brings whether it be success or failure,
satisfaction or disappointment, happiness or sorrow,
I may offer it to You.
Through me, may everyone I meet this day see You, Lord,
feel your presence and experience your love.
Lord, I offer You today.
May I serve You by serving others in Your Name
making all that I do a gift of love and
thanksgiving for all You have done for me.

Amen.

 

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Lenten Schedule

Ash Wednesday
Masses will be celebrated at 6:30, 8:30 AM, 7:00 PM
12:10 PM is a service only

Stations of The Cross
Wednesdays in Lent at 7:00 PM
March 3, 8, 15, 22, 29

Confessions
Adult Confessions, Thursday, March 30 at 7:00 PM with multiple confessors
Saturday, April 1, 7:30 to 7:50 AM and 2:30 to 4:30 PM
Monday, April 3, 3:00 to 4:00 and 6:30 to 7:30 PM
These days are in addition to the regular Saturday Confession schedule.

Palm Sunday
4:30 Pm Vigil, 7:30, 9:30, 11:30 AM with a Solemn Procession immediately following the 11:30 Mass

Holy Week
No Adoration, No Exposition, No Stations of the Cross, Wednesday, April 5.

Holy Thursday, April 6, 7:00 PM,
Mass of The Lord's Supper

Good Friday, April 7, 9:00 AM Morning Prayer
3:00 PM Passion of Our Lord

Holy Saturday, April 7, 9:00 AM Morning Prayer
7:30 PM Easter Vigil Mass

Easter Sunday
7:30, 9:30, 9:35 in the Hall, 11:30 AM Masses

There will be no 6:30 Mass on Easter Monday, April 10.