Lenten Regulations for Fasting and Abstinence
The Church teaches that Catholics in good health are to observe the following practices during Lent unless for some serious reason they are unable to do so:
Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fasting, explained by the U.S. bishop’s, means partaking of only one full meal and two smaller meals that do not equal the main meal.
In addition, all Catholics 14 years old and older must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays of Lent. Abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, milk products or condiments made of animal fat.
Changes for Ash Wednesday Masses – Feb. 17th
Due to the pandemic and trying to make Ash Wednesday safer for all parishioners, the Diocese has asked us to distribute ashes differently this year. Here is how distribution will go:
Priest will pray the blessing prayer over the ashes and sprinkle with Holy Water.
The priest will then turn to the people and pray the words “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” over all those in attendance.
The people will then come forward and the priest/minister will sprinkle ashes on the top on their heads without saying any words. There will be no ashen cross put on the forehead this year.
The people will then return to their pews.
In addition, to allow all our students/staff in school to go to Mass and to receive ashes, we will be having a School Only Mass at 10:00am on Ash Wednesday (this will fill the church). Doing this will allow more people to attend the 8:15am Mass that morning. We will also have a Noon and 6:30pm Mass that day.
LENTEN RESOURCES
https://watch.formed.org/a-lent-to-remember
https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/lent/
https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/liturgical-year/lent