Ash Wednesday is a special day that marks the beginning of Lent, a season of prayer, fasting, and conversion. While it is an important day in the life of the Church, it is important to remember that Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation. Even so, the Church makes every effort to provide opportunities for as many people as possible to take part in such a meaningful day.
For that reason, we offer two Masses, at 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM, scheduled at times that are convenient for those who work or have other daily responsibilities.
In addition, the Church provides us with a beautiful and fully appropriate Service of the Word with the Distribution of Ashes, which allows us to expand our schedule even further. Because the Distribution of Ashes adds considerable time to the Mass, the Services of the Word at 12:15 PM and 4:30 PM allow people to participate during their lunch hour or for families to come after school and still be home in time for dinner.
Another benefit of the Service of the Word is that it allows for a bit more creativity in prayer and reflection, since it is not bound by the same rubrics as Mass. Our experience has shown that these services are deeply meaningful: attendance at the Services of the Word has been excellent, which tells us that parishioners are responding well to them and finding them spiritually fruitful.
By offering both Masses and Services, we are able to welcome more people, honor the realities of busy lives, and help our parish begin the Lenten journey together.
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#stisidore #macombmichigan #AshWednesday #lent
