I thank all those who participated in our Parish Open Forum. I will discuss all that was discussed with the Parish Pastoral Council and will set a date for our next forum.
I remind you that Ash Wednesday is February 17th and is the start of the Lenten season. On this day Catholics are obliged to abstain from meat and fast (18-59 years of age). Fasting is currently defined as eating one full meal as well as two smaller meals which do not equal a full meal. Each Friday during Lent we are also obliged to abstain from meat. On Fridays outside of Lent Catholics are asked to either abstain from meat or to supply another form of penance.
On Ash Wednesday Mass will be offered at 8:30am, 6pm, and 7:30 pm (Spanish). There will be the opportunity for confessions at 8am, 5:30pm, and 7pm. As Imposition of Ashes service will be offered at 12:15pm (this is not Mass and there will not be communion). Due to the pandemic we will not trace the sign of the cross on foreheads using ashes. Instead we have been instructed by Pope Francis to take a pinch of ash and place it on top of your head without saying anything as we do so. Some may be alarmed by this change, but it is in line with what other parts of the world including Rome have been doing. This is actually a more ancient form of receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday.
I invite you to attend our Stations of the Cross each Friday at 6pm in English or 7pm in Spanish. If you are unable to make the Stations of the Cross I encourage you to make use of the Stations located inside of the church and pray them at some point during the day. The Knights of Columbus will provide a to go soup supper each Friday from 5pm-7pm.
In Christ,
Fr. Dustin Collins
