From the desk of Fr. Mike ...

 

Ash Wednesday, February 17th, is the beginning of the Church's annual 40 day retreat. This precious time is given to us to stop what we usually do and really look at our lives to see if we are living up to the expectations of being disciples of Jesus.  Most of you should have received a letter from me and a tri-fold which gives everyone the opportunity to see what type of prayer one would like to participate in.  We will offer daily Masses, Stations of the Cross every Wednesday morning and Friday afternoon.  There will be two Taize prayer services, based on the Taize Monastery form of praying around the cross.  We will also teach and offer the opportunity of using the labyrinth, an ancient form of prayer, now in use in many of our parishes.  At our Sunday Masses, there will be emphasis on the penitential rite since the Gloria is omitted during Lent.  This Lenten season we are offering a Lenten Mission which will take place in March with a Redemptorist priest coming to preach the mission twice a day.  A Penance Service will be offered on Tuesday, March 16th, with eight or more priests present.

 

Please carefully consider your own need for renewal.  The Masses on Ash Wednesday are at 8:00am, 12noon, and at 6:00pm.  Ashes will be distributed during Mass.  We all have a need to turn toward the gospel, away from our sinful selves.

 

The regulations regarding fasting and abstinence in the Diocese of Fresno are as follows:  All persons are asked to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.  This means one main meal those days.  All Fridays are considered days of abstinence which means we are asked to give up meat on those days and, if we already do not eat meat, then another staple of food that makes a considerable difference.  The whole idea is sacrifice, to be in union with those who hunger in the world.  A suggestion has been made that Catholics give up one meal on Fridays and send what they would have spent on that meal to the suffering people of Haiti this Lent.  This is popular among working people who eat lunch out of the house during the day.  The bottom line for all of us is to make some kind of sacrifice, to break with the usual and be more in touch with Jesus who suffered and died for us.

 

During all the Fridays of Lent, the Knights of Columbus will be offering a Fish Fry after the Stations of the Cross.  You are invited to come and join them.   Also, a meager meal will be offered for those attending the Ash Wednesday noon and evening Mass in the hall.