Lent & Easter 2024
Here are the Church’s Lenten guidelines for helping us grow in repentance and detachment through penance:
Fasting: On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, fasting rules enjoin Catholics to eat only one full meal and two smaller meals which, combined, would not equal a single normal meal. Additionally, Catholics may not eat meat on these two days–or on any Friday during Lent.
Abstinence: Abstinence refers to “abstaining” from meat on Ash Wednesday and on Fridays during Lent. Whereas Catholics fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday with just one large meal, Catholics must refrain from eating meat on other Fridays, though they can have three full meals.
Subjects: Those ages 18-59, in reasonable health, are required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Those 14 and older must abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent. For young children not fasting, parents should still communicate the meaning and penance. Children, adults with physical and mental illness, pregnant women, and those nursing are all exempt from fasting. Common sense should prevail and no one should jeopardize their health to fast.
Please see below for practical ways you can enter more deeply into Lent this year!
PRAY
Most Blessed Sacrament Chapel open Monday-Friday 6am-9pm; Saturday-Sunday 7am-9pm.
Exposition & Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament in the Church: Wednesdays 6:30-8pm.
Stations of the Cross Fridays 7pm in the Church (bilingual).
Hallow App: Pray40 daily meditations for Lent.
Playlist of sacred music for Lent, on Spotify.
Holy Thursday Walking Pilgrimage: March 28, immediately following the 7pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
Celebrate
Ash Wednesday February 14, Masses with Imposition of Ashes: 7am, 9am, 12pm, 6pm, 7:30pm (bilingual); no confessions.
Palm Sunday March 24, Regular Schedule of Masses: 7:30am, 9am, 10:30am (Procession from Clarendon Square at 10:20), 12pm Spanish (procession from Clarendon Square at 11:50), 6pm.
Holy Thursday March 28 Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper: 7pm (bilingual); parish office closed.
Good Friday March 29, Celebration of the Lord’s Passion: 7pm (bilingual); no confessions; parish office closed.
Holy Saturday March 30, Blessing of Easter Food: 9:00am (Chapel); Easter Vigil Mass: 8:30pm (bilingual); no confessions.
Easter Sunday March 31, Masses: 7:30am, 9am, 10:30am,12pm Spanish; no 6pm Mass.
Easter Monday April 1, 9am Mass only; no confessions; parish office closed.
Confessions: Mondays & Fridays, 6:30 - 7pm; Wednesdays 6:30-8:00pm; Saturdays: 3:30 - 4:30pm. No confessions on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, or Easter Monday.
Learn
Weekly Bible Study, reflections on Sunday readings: Fridays 10-11:30am.
St. Charles Podcast listen to homilies and reflections from the priests at St. Charles.
FORMED online Catholic resources (talks, movies, books & audio).
Recommended Videos: osvtalks.com, instituteofcatholicculture.org, focusequip.org, youtube.com/ascensionpresents.
Dynamic Catholic: “Best Lent Ever” daily Lenten video reflections.
Abiding Together Podcast Book Study
Cabrini Movie Showing: March 8, 7pm—join us for a free showing of the new movie “Cabrini” at the AMC Courthouse!
share
Bishop’s Lenten Appeal: support diocesan ministries & services.
Soup & Stations: meatless soup dinner, Fridays at 6pm, Parish Center; Stations of the Cross, 7pm, Church.
Second Collections: Black & Indian Missions, Feb. 18; Catholic Relief Services, Mar. 10.
Small Communities of Faith: small groups supporting each other in faith.
Outreach to our neighbors in need.
Volunteer as an usher, altar server, or in another ministry.
Decorate our Church for Easter: March 30, 10am.