Supplements

CURRENT ISSUE

Lent begins Ash Wednesday, March 9

Each year the Lord Jesus calls the entire Church to a special season of penance and renewal.

As we begin this holy time of Lent, we should reflect on our need for conversion of heart, prayer, charitable works and penance.

The season of Lent extends this year from Ash Wednesday, March 9, to the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, April 21, inclusive.

1. Everyone 14 years of age or over is bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays of Lent.

2. Everyone 18 years of age and under 59 years of age is also bound to fast on Ash
Wednesday and Good Friday.

3. On these two days of fast and abstinence, only one full meatless meal is allowed.
The other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to
one’s needs, but altogether 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 obligation of the law is modified. Because Lent is a special season for all Christians, we should not lightly excuse ourselves from these penitential practices.

4. To completely disregard the law of fast and abstinence is seriously sinful.
Holy Saturday, the Easter Vigil:

The first Mass of Easter, the Easter Vigil, falls between nightfall of Holy Saturday, April 23 and daybreak of Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011. On Saturday evening, April 23, the sun will set in our diocese at 7:44 p.m. The end of civil twilight (nightfall) will occur at 8:12 p.m. It is suggested that the Easter Vigil celebration not begin before 8:12 p.m.
According to a most ancient tradition, this night is one of vigil for the Lord, and the Vigil celebrated during it, to commemorate that holy night when the Lord rose from the dead, is regarded as the mother of all holy vigils. For in that night, the Church keeps vigil, waiting for the resurrection of the Lord, and celebrates the sacraments of Christian initiation.

— Paschale Solemnitatis, no. 77 (quoting Exodus 12:42; St. Augustine, Sermon 219; and the Ceremonial of Bishops)
The entire celebration of this vigil should take place at night, that is, it should either begin after nightfall or end before the dawn of Sunday.

All of this information is available on the Office of Worship website at www.officeofworship.catholicweb.com.

Parish events scheduled in the diocese during the season of Lent

Every Thursday night: Scripture Study for the family, Cathedral of St. Peter, Belleville, 7 p.m., undercroft of the Cathedral.
March 10: “The Temptation of Christ.”
March 17: “The Transfiguration.”
March 24: “The Woman at the Well.”
March 31: “The Man Born Blind.”
April 7: “The Raising of Lazarus.”

March 4: Fr. Paul Coutinho, SJ, “Celebrating Life with the Lord of the Dance: A Preparation for Lent,” 9 a.m.-3 p.m., King House, Belleville, call Colette Taylor 397-0584.

March 9: Ash Wednesday, Masses 8 a.m., 7 p.m., St. John the Baptist Church, Red Bud.
March 9-11: Lenten Mission (In Spanish), 7 p.m., Our Lady of the Snows shrine Christ the King Chapel, Belleville, call Juan Rodriguez 394-6279.

March 11, 18, 25, April 1, 8, 15: Stations of the Cross, 6:30 p.m., St. Stephen Church, Caseyville.

March 11, April 1, 8, 15, 20: Stations of the Cross by school children, 2 p.m., 4th grade present the Living Stations (TBA), St. John the Baptist School, Red Bud.

March 11, 18, 25, April 1, 8, 15: Stations of the Cross, 7 p.m., Our Lady of Lourdes, Sparta.
March 13: Community Lenten Service, 6 p.m., St. Bruno Church, Pinckneyville.
March 14, 21, 28, April 4, 11: “How the Changes in Mass Will Affect You” at 7 p.m., parish center, Corpus Christi, Shiloh.
March 16, 23, 30, April 6, 13: Mass, 6:30 p.m., St. Stephen Church, Caseyville.

March 16, 23, 30, April 6, 13, 20: Lenten Services, 7 p.m., Our Lady of Lourdes, Sparta.

March 16, 23, 30, April 6, 13, 20: Stations of the Cross, 6 p.m., St. Pius V, Walsh.

March 17 and 31: Stations of the Cross, 7 p.m., St. John the Baptist Church, Red Bud.

Adult Enrichment Series: “What Catholics Believe”; following the Thursday evening services, St. John the Baptist Church, Red Bud.

March 21: A Lenten Day of Prayer with Sister Janis Yaekel, ASC, 8:45 a.m.-3 p.m., King’s House, Belleville, call Sister Janis Yaekel, ASC 397-0584.

March 21, 22, 23: A discussion of the sacraments each evening, first with Fr. Osang Idagbo, CM, then Fr. Dale Maxfield, and then Deacon Doug Boyer, 7-8 p.m. each evening at SS. Peter and Paul, Waterloo.

March 24, 31, April 7, 14: “Jesus and the Call to Conversion” with Fr. Sean Martin, 7:30 p.m., parish center, St. Teresa, Belleville, call Donna Thro 233-3500.

March 24 and April 14: Lenten Mass, 7 p.m., St. John the Baptist Church, Red Bud.

March 31: Prayer afternoon, with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, 1-7 p.m. Rosary is prayed on the hour beginning at 2 p.m., St. John the Baptist Church, Red Bud.

April 15: The Living Stations, presented by 8th grade students, 2 p.m., St. Teresa church, Belleville, call Donna Klaus 235-4066.

April 15: Journey to Calvary, St. Teresa Choir, St. Teresa church, Belleville, call Stephen Eros 975-5709.

April 19: Chrism Mass, 1:30 p.m., Cathedral of St. Peter, Belleville, call Office of Worship, Mary Fournie 235-9601, ext. 1462.

April 19: We Were There-Stations of the Cross, 7:30 p.m., Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, call Orin Johnson 394-6276.

April 22: Outdoor Way of the Cross, 1 p.m., Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, call Erin Brennan 394-6294.

Laetare Sunday, April 3: “Come Back to Me,” an afternoon of Reconciliation, the Belleville Deanery, St. Peter Cathedral, Belleville. Five hours of confessions available, noon-5 p.m., several priests will be available for individual confession throughout the afternoon.