News - February 2023 RSS Feed

Although fasting is only required on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, many people use fasting as a spiritual exercise on additional days during the Lenten season. The Scriptures are filled with examples of fasting where the rewards sought and attained were spiritual. Jesus fasted forty days in the  desert before beginning his public ministry; Moses fasted before receiving the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai; Elijah fasted before meeting the Lord on Mt. Horeb (also known as Mt. Sinai); St. Paul’s ministry began after a period of prayer and fasting that followed his being blinded on the road to Damascus; and the disciples were encouraged by the Lord to fast when he was no longer with them.

View the 2023 Lent, Holy Week and Easter Schedule for Our Lady of Fatima Parish.

Wednesday of this week is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent. There are some people who seem to have a mistaken understanding of the reception of ashes and assign more importance to receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday than they do to attending Sunday Mass. Do not be misled. The ashes are NOT a Sacrament. They are what is called a “sacramental” and are no different than blessing yourself with Holy Water when you enter or leave the church. What is exceptional about the reception of ashes is that it normally occurs only one day a year (on Ash Wednesday), and that it is an outward sign  a public declaration, if you will  that one is a sinner and is in need  of God’s mercy and forgiveness. If we receive the ashes and then do not follow it up with a Sacramental Confession at some point during Lent, we have done nothing but condemn ourselves as hypocrites.

Join us. The Seven Last Words of Christ, Presented by Pastor Emeritus of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rev. Christopher Zugger. 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM (Mon., Tues. & Wed.). Confessions on Wednesday, March 15, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM —During presentation 

The Stations of the Cross will be prayed in the church at 7:00 PM on Fridays during Lent (February 24, 2023 through March 31, 2023). The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) will be offered prior to the Stations of the Cross, from 6:00 PM - 6:45 PM.

Every Friday, February 24, 2023 through March 31, 2023 - 5:30 PM. Simple Soup Supper in gym of Fatima-Gallagher Hall. Soup Supper Hosts: 02/24/23—Parish Council & Finance Council, 03/03/23—Eucharistic Ministers & Lectors, 03/10/23—Our Lady of Fatima School, 03/17/23—Holy Name Society, 03/24/23—Coffee and Donuts, 03/31/23—Choir & Women's Guild.

Today’s First Reading comes from the Book of Sirach in the Old Testament (Sirach 15:15-20), and it offers the Jewish people advice on how to live their lives in a manner worthy of God, and make the choice between good and evil. This same principal would later be stated multiple times by Saint Paul when he would encourage the early Christian communities to live in a manner worthy of the call (Baptism) they have received.

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 22, 2023. There will be three Masses with distribution of Ashes that day, at 6:30 AM, 8:15 AM, and 5:30 AM. The distribution of ashes will take place after the homily. There will also be a Liturgy of the Word (no Communion) with distribution of ashes at 12:10 PM.

 Next weekend is the beginning of our Annual Catholic Appeal campaign for 2023 and we will have the opportunity to complete pledge cards. The theme for this year’s campaign is “A Future of Hope and Healing” If they have not already, Parishioners should soon receive a letter, pamphlet, and pledge card from Archbishop John Wester regarding the importance of the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA).