February 16, 2020

Ash Wednesday will be upon us soon

Ash Wednesday will be upon us before we realize it—next Wednesday, February 26! Masses with the distribution of ashes and Liturgy of the Word with the distribution of ashes are in the column below.

As you know, Ash Wednesday is a day of fast and abstinence. This means that we are allowed three meals for the day and no snacking in between. We are also to abstain from eating meat. With this in mind, our parish has traditionally provided fish dinners and so we continue the tradition.

But of course, before Ash Wednesday, there is always Mardi Gras! The parish celebration of Mardi Gras, which has always been a very successful event held at St. James the Apostle, is now in Holy Spirit Parish and will be celebrated at the Parish Center at St. Mary site on Saturday, February 22, from 5 to 9 pm. For everyone’s convenience, we have added on a Mass prior to Mardi Gras at 4 pm at St. Mary’s. This year’s celebration promises to be bigger and better than ever given the fact that we are now all one parish, the event has    quadrupled in size! My sincere gratitude to everyone who has worked on this major celebration for Holy Spirit Parish. I hope and pray that the good will and fellowship of this experience will unite us even more as a strong parish family as we seek to enter the holy season of Lent.

For your spiritual enrichment, the parish is distributing, at all of our sites, Bishop Barron’s book of daily reflections for Lent. We also have other opportunities for spiritual growth. Beginning February 25, Harry J. Dudley, having worked at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, will present the series, Vatican II and Our Call to Holiness. The program will be offered in morning and evening sessions at St. Joseph the Worker, lower level of the Church.
 
Wishing you all a very blessed and rejuvenating Lenten Season!
 
God love you,