Called to make Christ visible in our family, community and the world. To lead all people to experience the Light of Christ.
Ash Wednesday
Question:
Is Ash Wednesday a holy day of obligation?
Answer:
Despite the often packed churches, you may be surprised to hear that the answer is no! Holy days of obligation commemorate a particular event (such as the birth of Christ at Christmas) or celebrate particular people (such as Mary’s Immaculate Conception or the feast of All Saints). Ash Wednesday is a day of penance, fasting, and abstinence to begin the season of Lent. In a sense, it focuses on a concept rather than something particular and concrete. Of course, repentance ought to be reflected in particular, concrete ways! That’s one of the reasons that attending Mass on Ash Wednesday is a very good idea. It marks the beginning of a solemn season of penance. Despite all its comparisons to the desert, Lent can be very fruitful for our spiritual growth! Beginning this season with the celebration of Mass and the reception of ashes is a sign of our commitment to God and to spiritual growth.
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Following the model of “Dadvent,” join men from across the Diocese on Wednesday nights during Lent (Wed, Feb 17th – Wed, March 31st, 2021) at 8PM over Zoom for discussion around the video series “Into the Breach,” produced by the Knights of Columbus. Each night we will watch a video together and then have small group discussions. We plan to be finished within an hour. Just like “Dadvent,” the overall goal is to strengthen our homes, families, and marriages by focusing on the example of St. Joseph.
We want as many men to be involved as possible, so we’re inviting all men in all parishes and calling on parish men’s groups, Knights of Columbus Councils, and men’s small groups to join us for “Into the Breach” during Lent.
Schedule:
Each Wednesday we will watch and discuss one film, which will cover seven films in the series. The other five videos will need to be watched individually sometime before the next meeting in order to complete the entire series during Lent.
Feb 17th – View the film “Masculinity” (and watch “Brotherhood” on your own before next Wed)
Feb 24th - View the film “Leadership” (and watch “Fatherhood” on your own before next Wed)
March 3rd - View the film “Family” (and watch “Life” on your own before next Wed)
March 10th - View the film “Prayer” (and watch “Suffering” on your own before next Wed)
March 17th - View the film “Sacramental Life” (and watch “Spiritual Warfare” on your own before next Wed)
March 24th - View the film “Evangelization”
March 31st – View the film “Cornerstone”
There is no cost, but we are asking men to pre-register at http://bit.ly/2MoFjji so we can email the access link to you for security reasons.
For questions, contact Danny May in the Office of Marriage & Family Life, 270-683-1545 or email danny.may@pastoral.org .
Online Lenten program begins Feb. 23
Would you like to enrich your spiritual life this Lenten season? We all need a fresh start for our faith in 2021. “A Prayerful Journey Through Lent” is a four-part adult faith formation opportunity that will be offered online by the Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center, Maple Mount. Through presentation, prayer “practice” and group discussion/sharing, participants will explore and experience praying through nature, silence, our imagination and the ordinary events of our day. The program will take place from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Feb. 23, March 2, March 9, and March 16. You will be provided with a Zoom link to allow you to watch in your home. The program facilitator will be Ursuline Sister Cheryl Clemons, OSU. Sister Cheryl has been offering retreats, parish missions, and RCIA programs for over 25 years. The fee is $40. To register, contact Maryann Joyce, Retreat Center Director, at 270-229-0206 or maryann.joyce@maplemount.org. You can learn more and register online: https://ursulinesmsj.org/event/a-prayerful-journey-through-lent/