LENTEN REGULATIONS

    The season of Lent begins with Ash Wdnesday, which falls this year on February 25.
    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 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 25, Catholics and other Christians will wear the sign of the cross in ashes on their foreheads, bearing witness to their belief in the 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 scented 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 "Turn 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. (Spanish), 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., 12:15, 3:00 (children's service) and 7:00 p.m., at St. Joseph Church at 6:30 a.m. (English) and 7:00 p.m. (bilingual) 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.

SPANISH EVANGELIZATION

    The Legion of Mary's Presidium Maria, Arca de la Alianza, based out of Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas, will lead a three-week Lenten Mission beginning on the feast day of St. Joseph, March 19. Instead of inviting a guest speaker for a few nights of conferences at the church, Fr. Charles Crespo and the legionaires will bring the conferences to the homes of Spanish-speaking families who live within a few steps of the church every night. The families visited will be invited to attend the Stations of the Cross in the church on Fridays and the Sunday Mass. The goal is to begin a process of evangelizing and integrating these families into the community of faith in time for Holy Week.

LENTEN MISSION

    Lenten Missions are an opportunity for Catholics to delve more deeply into the mystery of the Paschal faith.
    Fr. Anthony Abraham, Parochial Vicar of Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas, will lead a Lenten Triduum at    St. Ann Church on St. Croix on March 3-5. He will also lead a Youth Night on Friday, March 6.
    Fr. Abraham also will lead a Lenten Mission at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas on March 9-11 at 6:30 p.m.

PENANCE SERVICES

    Catholics who have reached the age of discretion are bound faithfully to confess their grave sins at least once a year. Several priests on St. Croix will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation at a Penance Service at St. Ann Church on Tuesday, March 31, and at St. Joseph Church on Wednesday, April 1, both at 7:00 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 enter spiritually into 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 Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral in English at 5:30 p.m. and in Spanish at 6:30 p.m., Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church at 6:00 p.m., and Holy Family Church and St. Anne Chapel at 7:00 p.m.
    On St. Croix, the Stations will be prayed at St. Ann Church and St. Joseph Church at 6:00 p.m., Holy Cross Church and St. Patrick Church at 7:00 p.m., and in Spanish at Sacred Heart Chapel at 7:00 p.m.
    On St. John, the Stations will be prayed at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church at 7:00 p.m.

THE CATHOLIC ISLANDER * February 2009*  Page 8