Ash Wednesday – February 14th
Masses will be celebrated at:
6:30am, 9:00am, & 7:00pm
In addition, there will be a simple Liturgy of the Word with the Distribution of Ashes only at 5:30pm.
This will NOT be a Mass, and Holy Communion will NOT be distributed at 5:30pm.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will take place every Monday during the Lenten Season following the 8:00am Daily Mass and will conclude with Benediction at 4:00pm in the Chapel.
Stations of the Cross
Every Friday at 7:00pm in Church.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Every Saturday: 3:45-4:30pm in Chapel
Evening of Reconciliation on Wednesday, March 20th beginning at 7:00pm in Church; several guest priests will be available for Confessions around the Church; there will be no formal prayer service, simply come and engage this great Sacrament of healing and mercy before Easter!
Holy Week & Triduum
Palm Sunday – March 23th & 24th
We will follow a normal Sunday schedule:
5:00pm Saturday Vigil
Sunday at 7:30am, 10:30am, & 6:00pm
A Solemn Blessing and Procession of Palms will take place at both the 5:00pm Saturday Vigil and 10:30am Sunday Masses beginning at the Gazebo outside the Clergy Residence, weather permitting. In case of inclement weather, we will move inside the Atrium.
Holy Thursday – March 28th
7:00pm – Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Following the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, all are welcome to join in a Solemn Procession with the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose in the Chapel. Weather Permitting, we will follow a similar route we used for 40 Hours around the outside of the Parish Campus. The Altar of Repose will be located in the Chapel and will remain open for private prayer until 11:00pm.
Good Friday – March 29th
A simplified version of Morning Prayer will be prayed in the Chapel at 9:00am.
The Chapel will remain open throughout the day for private prayer.
12:00pm – Ecumenical Stations of the Cross in Church
3:00pm – Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion in Church
Following the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion, the Church will close for the evening.
Holy Saturday – March 30th
A simplified version of Morning Prayer will be prayed in the Chapel at 9:00am.
The Blessing of Easter Food will take place following Morning Prayer, approximately 9:30am.
Solemn Easter Vigil – 8:00pm
This year we do not have any Parishioners being Baptized at the Vigil Mass, however we are encouraging Parishoners to attend this beautiful Liturgy that is rich in its symbolism! Weather permitting, the Easter Fire will be lit and blessed outside the Atrium.
Easter Sunday – March 31st
Masses will be celebrated at:
7:30am, 9:00am, & 10:30am.
Please note the addition of the 9:00am Mass since there will NOT be a 6:00pm Mass on Easter Sunday!
“Little Black Books”
We are happy to provide copies of the “Little Black Book” from the Diocese of Sagniaw. In Advent we distributed copies of the “Little Purple Book” and parishioners found them to be quite helpful. There will be a limited supply available in Church beginning the weekend of February 10th and 11th.
Pocket Crosses
We are happy to once again provide “Pocket Crosses” for this Lenten Season! They are engraved with the words we hear on Ash Wednesday: “Repent, and Believe in the Gospel” along with the year: 2024. These will be available beginning on Ash Wednesday. In addition, we also have a supply of wooden crosses from years past that we will have out which you are welcome to take.
Rules on Fasting and Abstinence
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.
For Catholics, the rules on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal.
The rules concerning abstinence from meat are binding from age 14 onwards.
For health reasons, these rules can be adjusted. You should always follow your medical doctor’s instructions with regard to diet. Such instructions are important and can override rules of fasting and abstinence. In these cases, another act of fasting or sacrifice can be substituted.