Ash Wednesday | February 17, 2021

Lent is fast approaching! On Wednesday, February 17th, the Church begins the Penitential Season of Lent.

Ash Wednesday Mass will be celebrated at 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM. Liturgy of the Word Services (with Distribution of Ashes) will be offered at 12:10 PM and 4:15 PM.
 
As per usual - Social Distancing (100-Person Max in Church / 50-Person Max in O’Connor Hall), as well as Mask Wearing, is mandatory.
 
By directive from the Vatican and Archdiocese of Newark, ashes will be sprinkled on the top of heads instead of traced on foreheads to avoid contact due to the pandemic. While this is unusual for us, this is the common practice in Italy, Poland, and other European countries. Perhaps in this adaptation and these pandemic times lies a challenge for us to enter into the Season of Lent more deeply. This year, without a visible mark on our foreheads, we are invited to truly pattern our lives on repentance and belief in the Gospel thereby offering a witness through prayer, fast, and almsgiving.


We hope you will join us as we enter into this Holy Season!

Lenten Regulations

Archdiocese of Newark
2021 Lenten Regulations

1. The days of both Fast and Abstinence during Lent are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the “paschal fast” to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily His Resurrection. The other Fridays of Lent are days of Abstinence.
2. On a day of Fast, only one (1) full meal is permitted, and two (2) smaller meals, which, if added together, would not exceed the main meal in quantity. Those between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast.
3. On a day of Abstinence, no meat may be eaten. Those who have reached the age of 14 are obliged by the law of abstinence.
4. The obligation to observe the laws of Fast and Abstinence “substantially”, or as a whole, is a serious obligation.
5. The Fridays of the year, outside of Lent, are designated as days of Penance, but each individual may substitute for the traditional abstinence from meat some other practice of voluntary self-denial as penance.
6. The time for fulfilling the Paschal Precept (Easter Duty*) extends from the First Sunday of Lent, February 21st, 2021 to The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, May 30th, 2021.

 
*Canon 920, §1. All the faithful, after they have been initiated into the Most Holy Eucharist, are bound by the obligation of receiving Communion at least once a year.