Fast and Abstinence
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.
For members of the Roman Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal.
The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Roman Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.
Those that are excused from fasting and abstinence, outside the age limits, include the physically or mentally ill including individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Also excluded are pregnant or nursing women. Water and medicine are always permitted. In all cases, common sense should prevail, and ill persons should not further jeopardize their health by fasting.
If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the "paschal fast" to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily his Resurrection.
Please note: Pope Francis has declared this the "Year of St. Joseph." As the Feast of St. Joseph falls on Friday, March 19 (during Lent), we have been given a dispensation from abstinence. We can have meals with meat on Friday, March 19.
Theresa M. Morris, age 90, of Springfield, Illinois, formerly of Mount Vernon, Illinois, passed away at 1:30 am March 4, 2021. She was born May 20, 1930 in Louisville, Kentucky to the late Bernard and Madeline (Klein) Bierbaum. Theresa was married to Robert "Bob" Morris on Saturday, October 1, 1949 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Louisville, Kentucky. They were blessed with 65 years of marriage before he preceded her in death in 2014.
In honor of Theresa's wishes, she will be cremated and no public services will be held. Her ashes will be placed next to her husband's grave at Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens in Woodlawn, Illinois. A Funeral Mass will be conducted at Saint Mary Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Mount Vernon, Illinois at a later date.
Memorials may be made to Saint Mary's Catholic School in Mount Vernon, Illinois or to a charity of the donor's choice.
For additional information, please click on:
https://www.hugheyfh.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?obId=20164001
The Knights of Columbus are sponsoring "Stations of the Cross" each Friday at 6:30 p.m. The "Stations" will be live-streamed on Facebook and will also be accessible through the parish website. If you would like you may come and pray the "Stations" at church with the Knights. The "Stations" will be prayed each Friday night during Lent, except for Good Friday.
Please join the Knights of Columbus for recitation of the Rosary on Tuesday nights at 6:30 in church. If you cannot come to church, the Rosary is live-streamed and you may find it on Facebook or access it through the parish website!
The Knights of Columbus are holding their "famous" fish fries this season! ONLY CARRY-OUT! NO DINING IN!
Hours: 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
When: Friday, March 12, 2021
Where: West church parking lot
How: Drive up and your order will be taken!
Cost: $10.00 per carry-out plate
Menu: Fried pollock plate or a shrimp plate or a pollock and shrimp plate
Dinners include: fries and hush puppies
EXCELLENT!
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!
2021 Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl Campaign
The Rice Bowl Campaign is the largest fundraising event for CRS each year. Due to the onset of the pandemic immediately after the start of last year’s campaign, raised revenue was dramatically short of goal. This year, a plan with several options for making donations, is available, making giving easier.
Please remember, this fundraiser helps impoverished people to not only feed and clothe their families but also teaches them sustainable skills. Additionally, 25% of all funds raised, stay in Jefferson County to help out our families in need.
The three options are:
THANK YOU!
Sacrament of Reconciliation
What does the sacrament of reconciliation mean to you? Have you already had that experience?
Francis tells us: “When I go to confession, it is in order to be healed, to heal my soul. To leave with greater spiritual health.”
The Pope invites us to live this sacrament of love that transforms our life: “The center of confession is not the sins we declare, but the divine love we receive, of which we are always in need.” God is greater than our sins. Share this message full of joy with everyone you care about, and go to the sacrament of forgiveness to savor the Lord’s infinite mercy. It’s a gift for you!
“When I go to confession, it is in order to be healed, to heal my soul. To leave with greater spiritual health. To pass from misery to mercy. The center of confession is not the sins we declare, but the divine love we receive, of which we are always in need. The center of confession is Jesus who waits for us, who listens to us and forgives us. Remember this: In the heart of God, we come before our mistakes. And let us pray that we may experience the sacrament of reconciliation with renewed depth, to taste the forgiveness and infinite mercy of God. And let us pray that God may give his Church merciful priests and not torturers.”
YOUR INFORMATION CHANGES! PLEASE!
If you change your address, phone number or e-mail address, don't forget to keep the parish office informed!
Also, if you have your mail temporarily halted, please let the parish office know when you leave and when you expect to return.
Please click on this link to grab the list for January - June, 2021.
January - June, 2021
For additional information Soup Kitchen information, please go to:
Ministries>Ministry Lists
2020-2021 CHILD PROTECTION REFRESHER NOW AVAILABLE: TECHNOLOGY SAFETY
NEW: DIOCESAN INITIAL CHILD PROTECTION POLICY TRAINING - PROTECTING CHILDREN IN THE 21ST CENTURY
[Replaces the "In-Person" Initial Child Protection Policy Training]
Diocesan Policy:
All clergy, employees and adult volunteers must complete the following to be compliant with the Diocese's Child Protection Policy:
Letter from Bishop Emeritus Braxton Regarding Updated Policy - March 17, 2019
Link to Updated Child Protection Policy
Forms:
Please print out form, complete and return to the parish office - not the address on the form!
2019
CANTS - Every 2 years
Criminal Background Check - Every 4 years
Sat., Mar. 6 5:00pm Wilma Karcher,
Paul & Mary
Dickerson
Sun., Mar. 7 8:00am Bernice
Kwiatkowski
@ St. Barbara
10:00am St. Mary Parishioners
5:00pm Bernice
Kwiatkowski
Mon., Mar. 8 8:30 a.m. Agnes Kubicki Tues., Mar. 9 8:30 a.m. Brad Pancoast Wed., Mar. 10 8:30 a.m. Wilma Karcher Thurs., Mar. 11 8:30 a.m. Charles & Jacqueline Rodgers
Fri., Mar. 12 8:30 a.m. Peter & Margaret Smalley
Sat., Mar. 13 5:00 p.m. George & Marceda Kreps Sun., Mar. 14 8:00 a.m. Christopher A. Kujawa @ St. Barbara
10:00 a.m. Emma Caserotti & Timothy Rich
5:00 p.m. St. Mary Parishioners