Lenten Regulations

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence (i.e. no meat and only one full meal) for those who are not excused or dispensed.  All Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence (i.e. no meat).  Abstinence means a person abstains from (i.e. does not eat) meat.  Fasting means eating only one full meal a day, but allows for taking some food at two other meals (morning, noon or evening as a person prefers) in lesser quantities so the two light meals together do no exceed the quantity of food allowed at the full meal.  Meat is permitted only at the full meal.  The drinking of ordinary liquids does not break one's fast.  The laws of  abstinence from meat applies to all persons who have completed their 14th year of age, however, it is highly recommended that children from ages 7 to 14 also observe the law of abstinence as a matter of training rather

Stations of the Cross

than obligation.

The law of fasting binds those persons who have completed their 18th year and continues until they have completed their 59th year.  Persons may judge in conscience that they are excused from observing the law of fast and /or abstinence if, for example, their health or the proper performance of their work would suffer proportionately from observing the fast or the abstinence.  Also, a priest may duly dispense a person from the obligation.

To the practice of penance there should be added during Lent a sincere effort to deepen one's prayer life.  Some recommended practices:

• more frequent participation in daily Mass

• reflective Bible reading, especially the Gospel accounts of the Passion of Our Lord

• participation in your parish's Lenten devotions and study sessions, especially the Way of the Cross and private, even daily, making the Way of the Cross

Finally, the Archbishop urges all Catholics to frequently receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist in order to bring about true devotion and conversion during this Lenten season.

Changes occur in the Mass during Lent.  The Gloria is neither sung nor said.  This can be seen as part of the Lenten sacrifice.  The color of the priest's vestments at this time is violet.

Ash Wednesday - Fast and Abstinence

Fast for Catholics between 18 - 59

Abstinence for Catholics 14 years and older.

Fast = one full meal and two smaller meals (together not equal to one meal).  No solid foods between meals.

Abstinence = no meat

Ash Wednesday officially begins Lent and the Easter cycle. Palms from last year's Palm Sunday are burned. The ashes from these palms are used during the Ash Wednesday services. The custom of placing ashes on the heads of people is an ancient penitential practice.

7:30 am - Mass

9:00 am - Mass

5:30 pm - Mass

7:30 pm - Mass

Stations of the Cross

Fridays, 7:00 pm, Church

print version

Traditionally, Lenten devotions in parish churches have drawn attention to the suffering and death of Jesus. The most popular one in known as the Stations of the Cross. They represent critical events from Scripture or tradition of Jesus' journey to Calvary. There are 14 stations.

Soup Suppers

Fridays, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm in Seton Hall

Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence.   So before the Stations of the Cross, we join together for a soup supper in Seton Hall.  Soup is served without charge to all  (but donations are accepted). 

Abstinence for Catholics 14 years and older.

7:30 am - Morning Mass (Daily Mass Chapel)

8:00 am - Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

8:30 am - 5:00 pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

5:00 pm - Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

5:30 pm - Evening Mass (Church)

6:00 pm - Soup Supper (Seton Hall)

7:00 pm - Stations of Cross (Church)

Abstinence for Catholics 14 years and older.

7:30 am - Morning Mass (Daily Mass Chapel)

8:00 am - Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

8:30 am - 5:00 pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

5:00 pm - Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

5:30 pm - Evening Mass (Church)

6:00 pm - Soup Supper (Seton Hall)

7:00 pm - Stations of Cross (Church)

Lenten Mission - Church

7:30 am - Daily Mass

Lenten Mission - Church

7:30 am - Daily Mass

Lenten Mission - Church

Reception follows this evening's session

7:30 am - Daily Mass

5:30 pm - Daily Mass

Abstinence for Catholics 14 years and older.

7:30 am - Morning Mass (Daily Mass Chapel)

8:00 am - Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

8:30 am - 5:00 pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

5:00 pm - Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

5:30 pm - Evening Mass (Church)

6:00 pm - Soup Supper (Seton Hall)

7:00 pm - Stations of Cross (Church)

Abstinence for Catholics 14 years and older.

7:30 am - Morning Mass (Daily Mass Chapel)

8:00 am - Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

8:30 am - 5:00 pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

5:00 pm - Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

5:30 pm - Evening Mass (Church)

6:00 pm - Soup Supper (Seton Hall)

7:00 pm - Stations of Cross (Church)

Abstinence for Catholics 14 years and older.

7:30 am - Morning Mass (Daily Mass Chapel)

8:00 am - Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

8:30 am - 5:00 pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

5:00 pm - Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

5:30 pm - Evening Mass (Church)

6:00 pm - Soup Supper (Seton Hall)

7:00 pm - Stations of Cross (Church)

Abstinence for Catholics 14 years and older.

7:30 am - Morning Mass (Daily Mass Chapel)

8:00 am - Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

8:30 am - 5:00 pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

5:00 pm - Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

5:30 pm - Evening Mass (Church)

6:00 pm - Soup Supper (Seton Hall)

7:00 pm - Stations of Cross (Church)

Passion Sunday - Palm Sunday

7:30 am - Mass

9:30 am - Mass

11:30 am - Mass

5:30 pm - Mass

HOLY WEEK

Print Holy Week Schedule

The week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday is called Holy Week.  The period of three days called the Easter Triduum fall in this week.  The Easter Triduum is Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil.  Holy Thursday is the evening that the Church celebrates the first Mass said by Christ with the Apostles.  Good Friday is the day that we mourn Jesus' death on the Cross.  Both days have special services.  The most holy of all days is Easter Vigil.  This is the day that most new Catholics will be received into the Catholic Church.

Holy Thursday

7:00 pm - Solemn Mass

Aft Mass adoration until midnight

Good Friday - Fast and Abstinence

Fast for Catholics between 18 - 59

Abstinence for Catholics 14 years and older.

Fast = one full meal and two smaller meals (together not equal to one meal).  No solid foods between meals.

Abstinence = no meat

During this service, we remember the crucifixion of our Lord. Prior to communion, every parishioner goes forward to venerate the cross. To venerate, you may kiss the cross, bow slightly, or touch the cross.

3:00 pm - Solemn Service

7:00 pm - Solemn Service

Holy Saturday - Easter Vigil

8:30 pm - Easter Vigil Mass

Easter Sunday

Today we celebrate Jesus' resurrection.  The forty days before Easter (Lent) were spent preparing for this day and we celebrate it enthusiastically.

7:30 am - Easter Mass

9:30 am - Easter Mass

11:30 am - Easter Mass

5:30 pm - Easter Mass

Easter Season

The Easter season lasts for fifty days, ending with Pentecost.  On the fortieth day after Easter Sunday, we celebrate the Ascension^* or when Jesus ascended to heaven to be with his father.  Ten days later is Pentecost - the day that the Church celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles and through them, the Holy Spirit comes to us.

During the Easter Season the color of the priest's vestments is white or gold.  Both of these colors signify the joy of the season of Resurrection.  Red vestments are worn on Pentecost Sunday.

^* The Ascension of the Lord, May 21 - in many dioceses the Solemnity of the Ascension is transferred to Sunday, May 24.  Holy Day of Obligation when celebrated on Thursday, May 21.