St. Columba Parish

             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 24^th

*  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:   
     

• Everyone is invited to enter the church and to attend all services. 

• Those of you  who prefer to wear a mask even if you have been vacinated is strictly up to you. However, they are not required.

• Continue to refrain from physical contact except for communion.

• Collections of your weekly offerings will continue to, as previously done, taken up by the ushers.  

• Finally, your Pastor, or priest offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will walk down the isle after Mass to greet you as you exit the church.