Wednesday the 17th is the beginning of our Forty Days of Lent. Our Mass times for that day: 7:30am, Noon, 5:30pm at Sacred Heart; 6:30pm at St. John’s; 7:00pm at St. Malachy’s. Ashes will be offered individually at each Mass, with a slight variance. With direction from Rome in regards to the Virus guidelines, ashes will be lightly sprinkled on the head of each person who comes forward at Mass. During the Season of Lent, leading up to Easter Sunday, Fr. Ross and I will be offering two Masses a day for the convenience of those who desire to receive the Eucharist during the weekdays as part of their Lenten obligation. Our weekday schedule during Lent is as follows: Monday: 8:00am, Sacred Heart; 5:30pm, St. John’s Tuesday: 8:00am, Sacred Heart; 5:30pm, St. Malachy’s Wednesday: Noon, Sacred Heart; 5:30pm, St. Malachy’s Thursday: 8:00am, Sacred Heart; 5:30pm, St. Malachy’s Friday: 8:00am, Sacred Heart; 9:15am, St. John’s Stations of the Cross: Wednesday & Friday following 8:00am Masses. Wednesday evening after 5:30 Mass, St. Malachy Monday evening after 5:30 Mass, St. John As with any change, there is concern and interruption in one’s routines. I hope the Mass schedule will give individuals and families an opportunity to participate in the Eucharist during this Lenten season. Thank you for understanding. Even though our diocese is asking each parish to maintain the present guidelines (every other pew and the wearing of a mask during Mass), the Lenten obligation of fasting and abstaining remains. On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, we are to abstain from meat, sharing one full meal and fasting throughout the day. As in the past, each Friday during Lent we are to abstain from eating meat. And the third aspect, almsgiving, is also a personal commitment to share some portion of our blessings with those who are struggling in need of hope. For your convenience we will offer “Rice Bowls,” the giving program started years ago by Catholic Relief Services, (the branch of our Catholic Church that reaches out to individuals and families overseas who are suffering because of famine, natural disasters, or civil upheavals. You may take a Rice Bowl after any of the Masses this weekend or on Ash Wednesday. During the forty days of Lent you choose how much and how often you place your offerings in the bowl, returning them to church during Holy Week. Many individuals consider personal resolutions to be followed through these forty days: giving up certain foods or desserts, etc. May your prayerfully consider what resolution would personally renew your faith, your relationship with Christ. I leave you with this thought from Mother Teresa as we look towards some ‘normalcy’ within the forty days of Lent: “As Lent is a time for greater love, listen to Jesus’ thirst; repent and believe Jesus tells us. What are we to repent? Our indifference, our hardness of heart. What are we to believe? Jesus thirsts even now, in your heart, and in the poor. He knows your weakness; he wants only your love, wants only the chance to love you.” Confessions, the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered half an hour prior to each weekend Mass at Sacred Heart, St. Malachy and St. John. Lenten Communal Penance Services will be held Sunday, March 14th & 21st.

God Bless, Fr. Tim

FYI: A Valentine’s Day thought from Charles Schultz, creator of Charlie Brown: “All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.”