Dear Friends,
To start this season with something both very special and very spiritual, we are going to have Irish Tenor Mark Forrest here at our parish for the first weekend of Lent today, Sunday, March 5th . He will perform a spiritual concert at 3:00p. On Monday, March 6th at 7:00p, he will lead an evening of Marian song and reflection.
Mark is an award-winning tenor who has graced the major cathedrals of the world with his clear and melodic voice. He has sung for St. John Paul II, St. Teresa of Calcutta, Charlton Heston and Maureen O’Hara, to name a few.
Mark was born in Dublin and attended the Royal College of Music on a full scholarship. Later, he studied music at the Catholic University of America on a full scholarship as well. His concerts are deeply spiritual and his love for the Catholic Church always shines through.
Mark and his wife have faced great challenges in their own family life with two of his seven children being deaf, blind and seriously ill. He has established a foundation on a farm in Virginia to provide for the needs of disabled children.
You will be amazed by his music and his testimony of faith. Come out for these events and jump-start your Lent with an infusion of hope and inspiration. See you there!
With prayers and blessings,
Fr. Tim Byerley
Pastor
Lenten Regulations
The days of both Fast and Abstinence during Lent are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
The other Fridays of Lent are days of Abstinence.
On a day of Fast, only one (1) full meal is permitted. Those between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast.
On a day of Abstinence, no meat may be eaten. Those who have reached the age of 14 are obliged by the law of Abstinence.
The obligation to observe the laws of Fast and Abstinence "substantially" or as a whole is a serious obligation.
The Fridays of the year, outside of Lent, are designated as days of Penance, but each individual may substitute for the traditional abstinence from meat some other practice of voluntary self-denial as Penance.
The time for fulfilling the Paschal Precept (Easter Duty) extends from the First Sunday of Lent (March 5, 2017) to the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (June 11, 2017).