ASH WEDNESDAY. . . FEBRUARY 22, 2023
“Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return”
ASHES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED:
St. Columba St. Mary’s
8am – Mass 9am – Mass
12pm – Service 12:15pm – Mass
4pm – Service 4pm – Service
5:30pm – Service
7:15pm – Mass
Dear St. Columba Family
It seems like the Christmas trees are barely out of the church as we now prepare ourselves for the season of Lent, which begins on Wednesday. We go from green back to purple as we enter into this most penitential season of the Church year. For many Catholics, I think, this is the most difficult season. It lacks the expectation of Advent and the joy of Christmas and Easter. It does not have the comforting commonality of Ordinary Time but rather is jarring in how it suddenly begins on a Wednesday in the middle of the week, and then proceeds for the next forty days.
We are encouraged by the gospel every Ash Wednesday to pray, fast, and give alms. We do this in a number of various ways. Many of us give something up for Lent and together as a Church observes the rules of fasting and abstinence from meat on Fridays. Ideally we journey through this season spending a little more time in prayer and through various sacrificial acts realize that in the end all our dependence must be on God.
Lent is a time not to be endured, but experienced. It is during these sacred days that we are preparing ourselves for Holy Week, the most beautiful and extraordinary part of the entire Church year when our hearts and minds are focused on the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. A Lent that is truly spent in prayer and acts of sacrifice will bear beautiful fruit when the season comes to its conclusion, and we once again celebrate the joy of the resurrection.
Fr.Chris
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Every Friday during Lent 7pm . . . starts February 24th
* PLEASE NOTE:.If there is an EMERGENCY and you need a priest, please call:
845-772-0717
* For those of you who are unable to come to church, the Sunday Mass is live streamed on the YouTube channel. In order to receive updates and notifications, please subscribe to our channel located on St. Columba’s web-site.
* Our guidelines for attendance at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass: