2008 Lenten Season
The SEASON OF LENT begins Wednesday,
February 6 (Ash Wednesday)
with the distribution of ashes. Mass will be celebrated at 8:30 am.
Word Services will be at 5:30 pm and 7:00 pm.
The Christian faithful are invited to do penance through prayer, fasting, abstinence and by exercising works of piety and charity. All Fridays throughout the year are penitential days, as is the entire season of Lent.
Click here for the 2008 Holy Week/Easter Schedule*
**Note Mass times for Palm Sunday, March 16 and Easter Sunday, March 23 will be 7:30 am, 9:30 am, and 11:30 am**
Lenten Requirements
All those 14 years and older are to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and on all Fridays of Lent. All those 18 years and older until the beginning of their 60th year, are required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Only one full meal is allowed on days of fast. Two other meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to one’s needs. But together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids are permitted. The obligation does not apply to those whose health or ability to work would be affected seriously. People in doubt should consult their pastor or confessor.
Lenten Offerings
Again this year, we have the opportunity to participate in the Catholic Relief Services Operation Rice Bowl. For thirty-one years, Operation Rice Bowl has inspired Catholics in the United States to pray, fast, learn and give as we increase our understanding of our global community and connect that with the principles of Catholic Social Teaching through our Lenten journey. For your convenience, materials will be available to pick up in the Gathering Space.
The Christian faithful are invited to do penance through prayer, fasting, abstinence and by exercising works of piety and charity. All Fridays throughout the year are penitential days, as is the entire season of Lent.
Click here for the 2008 Holy Week/Easter Schedule*
**Note Mass times for Palm Sunday, March 16 and Easter Sunday, March 23 will be 7:30 am, 9:30 am, and 11:30 am**
Lenten Requirements
All those 14 years and older are to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and on all Fridays of Lent. All those 18 years and older until the beginning of their 60th year, are required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Only one full meal is allowed on days of fast. Two other meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to one’s needs. But together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids are permitted. The obligation does not apply to those whose health or ability to work would be affected seriously. People in doubt should consult their pastor or confessor.
Lenten Offerings
- To help with your Lenten exercises of prayer, fasting and almsgiving: our parish community gathers for Mass during the week on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6:30 and Wednesday and Friday mornings at 8:30.
- There is a Word & Communion Service on Monday mornings at 8:30.
- If you are unavailable to participate in daily Mass, but would like to pray the daily readings, they will now be listed in the bulletin each week.
- The Lent edition of “The WORD Among Us” is available at the tables at front entrance of the church. This is a great daily approach to reading, meditating on and understanding scripture and provides sound, practical advice for Catholics on the living out of the Christian life.
- Lent is also a wonderful opportunity for extended prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. The chapel is open for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament from the end of Mass on Wednesday morning until Benediction at 9:00 pm.
- The Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated on Saturdays from 4:00 to 4:40 pm and is always available by appointment. There will also be a number of additional opportunities for Individual Confession the week before Easter.
- Individual
Reconciliation
- Saturday, March 8 3:00-4:00
pm
Friday, March 14 5:30-6:30 pm
Saturday, March 15 2:30-4:30 pm (note change of time)
- Communal Celebrations:
- Thursday, March 6 at 11:00 am (especially for the seniors) and Sunday, March 9 at 7:00 pm.
- We will continue the tradition of a Lenten Soup Supper on the Tuesday evenings of Lent at 5:15. A simple soup meal will be prepared and served by various parish groups in the Great Hall. All are then encouraged to stay for Mass at 6:30 in the Church.
- We will gather for Stations of the Cross on the Friday evenings of Lent at 7:00.
- This year our Parish Mission is scheduled for Monday, February 11 – Wednesday, February 13 and will be presented an award-winning author and national speaker Jim Merhaut. Jim will lead us in a lively exploration of Christian holiness.
- Again this year we will be offering Lenten Small Groups. These groups meet in parishioner’s homes for 5 weeks during Lent for faith sharing, prayer and fellowship.
- A Book Discussion Group will meet on Thursdays, February 28 and March 6, from 7:00-8:30 pm to discuss, “This Blessed Mess.” This book offers hope and encouragement in the face of life's chaos and assures us that in the midst of life's craziness, we can discover the seeds of creativity and hope. These Lenten opportunities offer us some wonderful time of personal and communal renewal.
Again this year, we have the opportunity to participate in the Catholic Relief Services Operation Rice Bowl. For thirty-one years, Operation Rice Bowl has inspired Catholics in the United States to pray, fast, learn and give as we increase our understanding of our global community and connect that with the principles of Catholic Social Teaching through our Lenten journey. For your convenience, materials will be available to pick up in the Gathering Space.
The information on this page is from Fr.
Mark's Musings, Vol. 1, No. 31
