Additional Reconciliation Times for Lent 
Thursday, March 18th 5:00-6:30pm
Saturday, March 20th 9:00-10:30am and 3:00-4:00pm
Wednesday, March 24th  9:00-11:00am, 12:00-2:00pm, 3:00-5:00pm, 6:00-8:00pm
Saturday, March 27th 9:00-10:30am
Wednesday, March 31st 9:00-10:30am and 6:00-8:00pm

Lenten Regulations for Fasting and Abstinence from the USCCB:
"Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards. Members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are to observe the particular law of their own sui iuris Church. 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."

So what does this mean?
1. Fridays in Lent, you are required to abstain from eating meat.  On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, you must observe a fast as well as abstain from meat. This means you may eat two decent sized snacks, and one full meal, and must avoid eating meat. 
2. You DO NOT HAVE TO FAST OR ABSTAIN from food if you are pregnant, nursing, experiencing a chronic medical condition, under the age of 14, or over the age of 65. The Church encourages us to fast and abstain in other ways. If you fall into those categories (fast from social media, tv, favorite treats, etc.).
3. Remember, also, the golden rule of fasting: if your fast burdens other people, it is not an appropriate fast. Let's say you want to fast from all food except bread and water. That is a great idea! BUT this fast makes you incredibly grumpy with your children and causes you to lash out at your spouse; or it causes you to shirk responsibility at work. This fast is no longer appropriate. The Church encourages us to use prudence when deciding on how severe our fasting should be, which is why she gives us such broad guidelines! Fasting should draw us closer to the Heart of Christ. When we fast, we should be replacing our feelings of hunger or deprivation with prayer to God. This should be the primary goal of all fasting. 

If you have any questions at all, please reach out to the parish office! We would love to help you! 

Stations of the Cross will be every Friday at 7:00pm in the church. 

Palm Sunday Masses will be March 27th & 28th