As lent begins we should all have a plan. Just as Jesus went into the desert to fast and pray for 40 days, we are called to spend these 40 days preparing ourselves fro Easter.
” Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways ackowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
ASH WEDNESDAY – Feb 22, 2023
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent and is observed as a day of Fast. We will have several Masses and a Prayer Service today and ashes will also be distributed.
- 6:30am Mass with ash distribution at St. Amelia
- 8:00am Mass with ash distributuin at St. Amelia
- 8:30am Mass with ash distribution at St. Francis
- 10:30am Mass with ash distribution at St. Amelia
- 12noon Mass with ash distribution at St. Francis
- 4:30pm Prayer Service with ash distribution at St. Amelia
- 7:00pm Mass with ash distribution at both St. Amelia and St. Francis
Confessions will be heard at St Amelia’s from 9:30am – 10:15am and again at 6:00pm – 6:45pm.
Lent is a call to prepare for the celebration of Easter, since the Lenten liturgy prepares us for the celebration of the Paschal Mystery both catechumens, and thos ein the various stages of Christian Initiation, and the faithful, who recall thei rown Baptism and do penance. The 40 days of Lent run from Ash Wednesday up to but excluding the Mass of the Lord’s Supper exclusive. From the beginning of Lent to the Paschal Vigil, the Alleluia is not said.
- Abstinence: All Catholics who have reached their 14th birthday are bound to abstain totally from meat on the following days: Ash Wednesday, all Fridays of Lent and Good Friday.
- Fasting: All Catholics between their 18th and 59th birthdays are also bound to observe the Law of Fast on the following days: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. This practice involves limiting oneself to a single full meal and avoiding food between meals. Light sustenance may be taken on two other occasions in the course of the day.
- Easter Duty: After they have been initiated into the Most Holy Eucharist, all the faithful are bound by the obligation of receiving Communion at least once a year. This precept must be fulfilled during the Easter season, unless for a good reason it is fulfilled at another time during the year. This obligation may be fulfilled between February 26, 2023 (First Sunday of Lent) and June 4, 2023 (Trinity Sunday).
LENTEN PENANCE SERVICE & STATIONS OF THE CROSS
As our Diocese progresses into the the family of Parishes Model, we would like to share with you the following information: Lenten Family of Prishes #18 Penance Service will be held at St. Amelia Church on Tuesday, March 21st from 5:00-8:00pm. We will have guest priests to assist with confessions during these three hours. The earlier time was chosen by the priests of the family to aid those unable to attend in the evenings.
Stations of the Cross will be prayed at all five Parishes of the Family on all five Fridays of Lent. The schedule is as follows:
- February 24th, 7pm at St Amelia’s
- March 3rd, 12noon at St. Christopher’s
- March 10th, 7pm at St. Jude
- March 17th, 7pm at Our Lady of Czestochowa
- March 24th, 7pm at St. Francis
- March 31st, 7pm at St. Amelia’s
Please come with your family and walk the Stations of the Cross as we journey together with Jesus our Savior and brother during the Lenten Season.
LENTEN FISH FRY
Our Lenten Fish Fry Season kicks off on Ash Wednesday from 3:00-6:00pm in the St. Amelia School cafeteria. You can dine in or take out. Dinners are $14 each pre sale or $15 at the door. The dinner includes haddock, potato salad, coleslaw, bread & butter, lemon and tarter sauce. If dining in, you also receive your choice of lemonade or coffee. Pre sale tickets will be sold at Masses Feb. 11th and 12th as well as Feb. 18th and 19th. all proceeds benefit the St. Amelia School 8th grade class.
The Friday Fish Fry Dinners will continue to be offered every Friday during the Lenten Season from 3:30pm – 6:30pm in the newly renovated St. Amelia School cafeteria. You can dine in or take out.
Fish Fry Dinner is $14.50 each and includes: 11ox haddock (baked/beer battered), potato salad, colesalw, pasta salad, bread & butter, tarter & lemon, and a dessert.
Or you may enjoy a salmon dinner with all of the above items or brown rice for $15.50 each.
Not a fish lover? We also offer mac & cheese, cheese pizza, or grilled cheese with soup and a dessert for $5.50 each
You can save money by purchasing a season pass for $87 for the Haddock fish fry dinner, $93 for the Salmon dinner. Easter Chocolate, Holy Honey and Pepsi products will also be availble for sale.
WEEKDAY LENTEN MASS SCHEDULE
Our weekday Lenten Mass schedule will take place at both St. Amelia’s and St. Francis of Assisi as follows:
- St. Ameilia: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 8am and 10:30am. Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:30am only.
- St. Francis of Assisi: Monday thru friday at 8:30am in the Chapel