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Pope Paul VI. Not long after that, the U.S. bishops applied the canonical requirements to the practice of public penance in our country. To sum up those requirements, Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In addition, all Catholics 14 years old and older must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays of Lent. Fasting, as explained by the U.S. bishops, means partaking of only one full meal. Some food (not equaling another full meal) is permitted at breakfast and around midday or in the evening—depending on when a person chooses to eat the main or full meal. Abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, milk products or condiments made of animal fat. Each year, in publishing the Lenten penance requirements, the U.S. bishops quote the teaching of the Holy Father concerning the seriousness of observing these days of penance. The obligation to do penance is a serious one; the obligation to observe, as a whole, or "substantially”, the days of penance is also serious. Moral theologians remind us that some people are excused from fasting and/or abstinence because of sickness or other reasons. In his "Apostolic Constitution on Penance”, Pope Paul VI did more than simply reorganize Church law concerning fast and abstinence. He reminded us of the divine law that each of us in our own way do penance. We must all turn from sin and make reparation to God for our sins. We must forgive and show love for one another just as we ask for God's love and forgiveness. The Code of Canon Law and our bishops remind us of other WORKS OF MERCY and means of doing penance: prayer, acts of self-denial, almsgiving and works of personal charity. Attending Mass daily or several times a week, praying the Holy Rosary, making the Stations of the Cross, attending the Parish Retreat, teaching the illiterate to read, reading to the blind, helping at a soup kitchen, visiting the sick and shut-ins and giving an overworked mother a break by baby-sitting - all of these can be even more meaningful and demanding than simply abstaining from meat on Friday. LENT Lent is the time of prayer, fasting & almsgiving. In addition to this traditional trio we give you some other (10) suggestions: Stations of the Cross (every Friday after 8.00AM & 6.00PM Masses); Rosary (pray for peace around the world and in our families; vocations) etc.; 3. Extra daily Holy Mass; 4. Lenten Lamentations (all Sundays of Lent at 5.00PM;(Sunday Feb. 24 & March 9 – 4.30PM); 5. Sacred Scripture reading; 6 Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (Friday’s 2.00 – 3.15PM & Saturdays 4.00 – 4.45PM) 7. Self-denial of special food, drinks, tobacco or TV programs |
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8. Visit the sick or the homebound 9. Almsgiving to the poor 10. Come always on time and stay till the end of the Holy Mass. Wait till the Last Blessing. Give to the Almighty God the whole Mass. Maybe you have some better ideas? Try to do something extra for God, neighbor and for yourself. Put these ideas into action!!!!!!! DIOCESAN CHOIR OPPORTUNITY Our Diocesan Chrism Mass will take place on Thursday March 13, at 7:00 pm, at St. Felicitas Church, located at 1662 Manor Blvd., San Leandro, CA, 94579. A multicultural choir is being formed for this celebration. Interested in participating? Please leave your name, phone number, email, and voice-part with Music Director, Mark Sullivan, at msimusic@comcast.net or 510-656-1055. Cantors who sing in Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Portuguese, and English will also be needed. The first rehearsal will be on Saturday, February 23, at 11:00 am, (please note time change) at All Saints Church, 22824 Second St., Hayward, CA 94541. Please refer to http:!/muslc.saintjosephmsj,org/ for a complete rehearsal schedule. Please forward this message to other potentially interested individuals. FROM THE DEPARTMENT FOR EVANGELIZATION AND CATECHE5I5 From Colleen Knutsen, Coordinator for Respect Life Ministry: Attention! Pro-life Film Festival in San Francisco, March 7: We want your films! Inspired by the recent success of the film “Bella”, the Respect Life Program of the Archdiocese of San Francisco has inaugurated its first annual Cinema Vita Film Festival in cooperation with the Diocese of Oakland’s Respect Life Ministry, Marriage for Life, and Ignatius Press. The Festival will take place at the Delancey Street Theater, 600 Embarcadero, San Francisco, on Friday evening, March 7, 2008 from 6:00 to 10:00 pm. For submission guidelines and other information on sponsorships, timetable, and prizes, please visit our website at www.cinemavita.org or call 510-267-8394. FROM CEMETERY SERVICES |
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