Prayer. Fasting. Almsgiving.Need a refresher on what Ash Wednesday and Lent is all about? Watch this short 2-minute video for a quick overview of this sacred time.
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Lenten Observances for Fasting and Abstinence
The Catholic Church asks each member to preserve the penitential character and purpose of Lent. For this reason:
- Catholics who have celebrated their fourteenth birthday are bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and each Friday of Lent.
- Catholics who have celebrated their eighteenth birthday, in addition to abstaining from meat, should fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Hence, on those days they should eat only one full meal. Smaller quantities of food may be taken at two other meals, but no food should be consumed at other times during those two days. The obligation of fasting ceases with the celebration of one’s fifty-ninth birthday.
- Catholics should not lightly excuse themselves from these prescribed minimal penitential practices.
"Doing Lent" (a letter from the Coordinator)
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Every year, I get asked the same question around this time: "what are you giving up for Lent?" Jokingly, I normally respond, "I'm giving up Lent for Lent."
Jokes aside, over the past few years, I've become more and more intrigued by the question of what I'm "doing" for Lent as if Lent is something we just "do" once a year. |
I'm sure most faithful Catholics, many of whom we are blessed to have as active members of this ministry, understand what Lent is about and why we give up things during Lent. But sometimes, "doing Lent" takes precedence over "experiencing Lent."
You see, when someone asks what I'm going to do for Lent, the focus is on what my action is. If I were to ask, "how do you hope to experience Lent this year," the focus is no longer on what I'm going to do, but rather, how this season of Lent will be a transformative experience for me.
So what am I giving up this year? My answer is that I'm giving it all up to God.
Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25)
You see, when someone asks what I'm going to do for Lent, the focus is on what my action is. If I were to ask, "how do you hope to experience Lent this year," the focus is no longer on what I'm going to do, but rather, how this season of Lent will be a transformative experience for me.
So what am I giving up this year? My answer is that I'm giving it all up to God.
Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25)
OLS Schedule of Services
ASH WEDNESDAY
Mass on Friday, March 5 at 7:00 AM & 7:00 PM Stations of the Cross Every Friday at 7:00 PM (followed by a Lenten dinner) Lenten Communal Reconciliation Service Tuesday, March 11 at 7:00 PM Individual Confessions
Living Stations Friday, April 11 at 7:00 PM |
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Lenten Faith Sharing
Join us for two special Faith Sharing evenings specifically focusing on Lent:
The E.P.I.C. Ministry Faith Sharing is held every Monday at 7:00 PM in the church. For more information on the E.P.I.C. Ministry events, see the Calendar. |
