LENTEN REGULATIONS

The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which falls this year on February 21.

Abstinence from meats is to be observed by all Catholics 14 years old and older on Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays of Lent.

In addition, fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59. Those who are bound by this may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength according to one's needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.

The special Paschal fast and abstinence are encouraged for Holy Saturday.

By the threefold discipline of fasting, almsgiving and prayer, the Church keeps Lent from Ash Wednesday until the evening of Holy Thursday. All of the faithful and the catechumens should undertake serious practice of these three traditions. Failure to observe any penitential days at all or a substantial number of such days must be considered serious.

ASH WEDNESDAY

On Ash Wednesday, February 21, Catholics and other Christians will wear the sign of the cross in ashes on their foreheads, bearing witness to their belief in th4e sorrow for sins and preparing for a season of repentance which ends with the bright celebration of Easter.

The ashes used in this ceremony are made by burning the remains of the palms blessed on the Palm Sunday of the previous year. Four ancient prayers are prayed in the blessing of the ashes. The ashes are sprinkled with holy water and fumigated with incense. The priest or deacon, dipping his thumb into the ashes, marks the sign of the cross on the forehead of each person, saying "Remember, you are dust and unto dust you shall return" or "Tum away from sin and be faithful to the gospel."

On St. Thomas, ashes will be imposed at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral at 7:00 and 8:30 a.m. (school Mass), and 12:15, 5:30 and 7:00 p.m., at Holy Family Church at 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church at 6:30 p.m., and at St. Anne Chapel at 7:30 p.m.

On St. Croix, ashes will be imposed at the Herbert Grigg Home for the Aged at 10:30 a.m., at Holy Cross Church at 8:15 a.m., noon and 6:00 p.m., at St. Ann Church at 6:30 a.m. and 12:15, 3:00 (children's service) and 7:00 p.m., at St. Joseph Church at 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., and at St. Patrick Church at 6:30 a.m, 8:00 a.m. and noon.

On St. John, ashes will be imposed at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church at the 8:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Masses and at para-liturgical services at noon and 4:00 p.m.

LENTEN MISSION

Lenten Missions are an opportunity to delve more deeply into the meaning of the mystery of the Paschal faith.

Fr. Ken Richards of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kingston, Jamaica, will lead a mission at St. Ann Church on St. Croix on February 27-March 2 at 7:00 p.m.

Fr. Simeon Gallagher, OFM Cap., will lead a mission at Holy Family Church on St. Thomas on March 10-15. He will preach at the Masses on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30 and 10:00 a.m., and will continue the mission Monday through Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

Fr. Emmanuel Shiju, CSsR, will lead a Lenten Mission at St. Patrick Church on St. Croix on March 26-29.

LENTEN BIBLE STUDIES

Two Bible studies will begin during Lent on St.

Croix. Participants are asked to bring a Bible.

Sr. Germaine Convery, WIF, will teach on the New Testament book of Galatians at Light of Christ Retreat Center on Thursdays beginning February 22 at 10:00 a.m.

The five sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary will be studied over five Tuesdays, one mystery per bible study, at the McAlpin Hall of Holy Cross Church beginning February 27 at 7:00 p.m. An appropriate scene from the film Jesus of Nazareth will set the scene.

SOUP AND BREAD SUPPERS

As a form of penance during Fridays in Lent, Catholics on St. Croix are invited to forego their usual supper and instead come to St. Joseph Church to share free homemade soup, bread and fellowship. The suppers begin at 6:45 p.m.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Praying the Stations of the Cross (also known as the Way of the Cross and the Via Crucis) helps the faithful feel the Good Friday experience of Jesus walking through the streets of Jerusalem to his passion and death. The Stations of the Cross will be prayed at all parishes on the Fridays of Lent.

On St. Thomas, the Stations of the Cross will be prayed at Holy Family Church at 5:30 p.m., Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral in English at 5:30 p.m. and in Spanish at 6:15 p.m., Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church at 6:00 p.m. and St. Anne Chapel at 7:00 p.m.

On St. Croix, pray the Stations at St. Ann Church or St. Joseph Church at 5:30 p.m., Holy Cross Church or St. Patrick Church at 7:00 p.m., or in Spanish at Sacred Heart Chapel at 7:00 p.m.

On St. John, the Stations will be prayed at Our Lady ofMt. Carmel Church at 7:00 p.m.

THE CATHOLIC ISLANDER     *FEBRUARY 2007 *  4