Ash Wednesday opens season of Lent

This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of the Catholic season of Lent. Mass and Distribution of Ashes will be at 7 a.m., 8:30 a. m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The ashes are a tangible reminder that Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and charitable works in preparation for Easter, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Here is the 2011 Lenten Weekly Schedule:

Monday
Mass 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.

Tuesday
Mass 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
Reconciliation 7 to 8 p.m.
Eucharistic Adoration 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m.

Wednesday
Mass 7 a.m.,8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Soup Supper in Boeke Hall 6 to 7 p.m.
(Soup Suppers weekly from March 16 through April 13)
Stations of the Cross 7:30 p.m.

Thursday
Mass 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.

Friday
Mass 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
Stations of the Cross 2:10 p.m. for school children and adults.

Saturday
Reconciliation 3 to 4 p.m.
Vigil Mass 4:30 p.m.

Fast and Abstinence
Ash Wednesday, March 9, and Good Friday, April 22, are days of abstinence from meat and also days of fasting, this is, limited to a single full meal (One full meal, and two smaller meals which do not add up to the full meal. No foods between meals.)

Beginning Friday, March 11, through Good Friday, April 22, Catholics are to abstain from eating meat on all Fridays in Lent. The law of abstinence binds all Catholics 14 years and older. The law of fasting binds all Catholics from their 18th birthday until their 59th birthday.