Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

   Lent begins this (ASH) WEDNESDAY! The annual Lenten season is the fitting time to “climb the holy mountain” toward Easter. It has a double character, namely, to prepare both the faithful and the catechumens to celebrate the Paschal (Easter) Mystery. This solemn time extends from Ash Wednesday up until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. During this time of year, we have, once again, made available, “The Word Among Us” booklets for your taking, to meditate on during the holy season of Lent. They are available at the church doors as you leave at the end of Mass. They will help guide your thoughts toward Jesus as you make this sacred journey toward Calvary and the Resurrection. May they help to increase your faith, service to, and love of the Lord.
Ash Wednesday and the days of Holy Week have precedence even over feasts and solemnities; and even the Alleluia is omitted from the beginning of Lent until the Easter Vigil. During Lent, the altar is not decorated with flowers (except for some on the Fourth Sunday of Lent). If any marriages are to take place during this season, couples are reminded that wedding plans should respect the special nature of this season, be simple, and refrain from too much pomp or display.
On Ash Wednesday, a day of universal fast and abstinence in the Catholic Church, ashes are blessed and imposed after the homily. Priests and deacons are assisted by Extraordinary Ministers (of Holy Communion) in the imposition of ash, especially for the sick and shut-ins. For your additional spiritual preparation for Lent, Confessions will be heard after the 7:00 p.m. evening Mass on Ash Wednesday.
Regarding the abstinence from meat, ALL Catholics from age 14 throughout life are obliged to abstain on Ash Wednesday, All Fridays of Lent and Good Friday. Regarding fasting, all Catholics from the day after their 18th birthday to the day after their 59th birthday, are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The law allows the partaking that day of one full meal only. The combined quantity of food taken at the two lighter meals that day should not exceed the quantity taken at the full meal.
Mass on Ash Wednesday will be at 7 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 12 Noon, 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (An additional Mass is added each weekday during Lent at 12 Noon for your participation and spiritual advancement).
Thank you most sincerely for your kindness, to all of you who made your DSA commitment, especially last weekend, when you made the real kick-off to the Diocesan Services Appeal very special.  Last year, we fell short of our parish goal, and so, the balance of money due had to be taken from the collection we put forth each week to serve the needs of our church and school. I ask that you will honor your pledge for the coming year and commit your sacrifices to making this coming year’s goal a reality. Our goal for the coming year is slightly over $201,000, and though we do find ourselves in rough economic times, the notion of sacrifice that was a valuable principle of Christian living to our grandparents and parents can again carry us through these difficult times. We are ONE BREAD, ONE BODY, ONE WITNESS.
Our 42nd Annual Parish Festival begins this coming weekend, and the rides, prizes and booths have increased this year in order to make it more successful than ever. Again, we will have “Paddy’s Pub,”and will add a “Cucina Italiana.” Once again, the $100 raffle tickets (limited to only 1,000 sales) will be sold again after Masses this weekend and during the festival. But, please, don’t wait until the last minute to purchase your special ticket (some people like special lucky numbers!). Also, we are always looking for volunteers to serve in the booths; but you’ll need a special volunteer name tag this year, so come to the volunteers’ booth to get your tag. This is a must for the purposes of security and the avoidance of bogus people who would try to “rip off” our parish.
Finally, the Palm Beach Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and the Office of Respect Life invite everyone to join them in “Catholic Days at the Capitol,” March 21-23. Catholics from all over the state of Florida will gather with their bishops in Tallahassee to meet with legislators, to promote legislation that supports the teaching of the Church, and to attend the annual “Red Mass” at the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More in the capital city. Registration forms for hotel accommodations and bus-ride details are available at our parish office, or you may get information through KATHLEEN MULLER at (772-468-2893) OR, e-mail, ffeathersnest@msn.com.
     
 Msgr. Tom