The Church begins the Season of Lent this year on Ash Wednesday, February 13th. On that day two Holy Masses will be celebrated: at 12 P.M. with blessing and distribution of Ashes and at 7 P.M. with blessing and distribution of Ashes.
Beginning with Ash Wednesday we are called to repent, to change our minds about the way we live our lives in the sight of God. In the reading from the Book of the Prophet Joel we will hear that he summoned infants, children, the newly married and the elderly to an assembly of prayer indicating that they were repenting. Ash Wednesday summons everyone to enter into a forty-day fast. All are called to pray. All are invited to give alms. We will all gather on Ash Wednesday because we know that we need to “to return to the Lord.” Joel tells us that we can do that only by returning with our whole hearts, that is, with a motivation that is deep inside us. The ashes marking a cross on our foreheads will indicate that we are entering in the Lenten period of change that will leave us never to be the same again.
During the season of Lent all parishioners are welcome to attend Lenten Devotions.
On Fridays in Lent you are invited to attend Stations of the Cross with the reading on the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ at 7:15 P.M. This will give us the opportunity to reflect upon the redemptive sufferings of our Lord.
Remember: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of Fast and Abstinence. Abstinence from meats is to be observed by all Polish National Catholics 14 years old and older on Ash Wednesday and on all Wednesdays and Fridays of Lent. Fasting is to be observed by all Polish National Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59. Those who are bound by this may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength according to one’s needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.