Lenten Regulations of the Catholic Church:
Everyone 14 years of age or older must abstain from meat (and items made with meat) on Ash Wednesday, and all the Fridays of Lent. Everyone18 years of age and under 59 is bound to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On these two days of fast and abstinence only one full meatless meal is allowed. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each one’s needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted on these two days, but liquids, including milk and fruit juices are allowed. When health or ability to work would be seriously affected, the law does not apply. Catholics should not lightly excuse themselves from the fast and abstinence prescribed by the Church. Lent is the principal season of penance in the Christian year. Priests, religious and laity are strongly urged to develop and follow a program of voluntary self-denial (in addition to following the Lenten regulations), serious prayer, and performance of works of charity and mercy.
Ash Wednesday – February 14th – Mass Schedule:
8:00am at St. Luke 10:15am at Sacred Heart with the youth from Sacred Heart School
5:30pm at St. Luke with the RE families 7:30pm at Sacred Heart with the RE families
Stations of the Cross/Daily Mass/Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament:
The Stations of the Cross, Daily Mass, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be offered beginning at 5:30pm and ending at 7:00pm each Tuesday at Sacred Heart and each Thursday at St. Luke from February 15th through March 22nd. This will be in addition to the regular morning Masses scheduled at each parish. Please remember that Holy Communion may be received only once on a weekday.
Stations of the Cross with Sacred Heart School:
The 4th, 5th, & 6th grades will lead the Stations of the Cross at 12:35pm on the following Fridays during Lent: February 16th & 23rd and March 9th & 23rd. Everyone is welcome to join them.
Reconciliation:
The Sacrament of Reconciliation, during the Lenten season, will be offered every Saturday from 3:30 to 4:30pm at Sacred Heart and by appointment at St. Luke. There will also be extra opportunities for the Sacrament during Holy Week and anytime by appointment. The schedule for Holy Week celebration of the Sacrament will be listed on another insert that will be published in late March. Our parishes will not be hosting a Communal Reconciliation Service this year. If you would like to attend a service of this kind with several priests available for the Sacrament you should plan to travel to St. Boniface in New Vienna on Sunday, March 11th at 2pm or the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville on Saturday, March 24th at 11am. Fr. Paul will be one of the priests at that service.
The Best Lent Ever:
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Parish Lenten Fish Fry:
Sacred Heart’s Lenten Fish Fry will be held on Friday, March 23rd from 4:30-7:30pm at the Berndes Center.