This is a day of fast and abstinance from meat. The law of abstinence is binding for those 14 years old and up. Fasting is binding for those 14-60.  All Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence from meat.

Ash Wednesday services with distribution of ashes will be at:

• Mass at 6:30 PM at St. Francis Xavier in Attica
• Communion Service at 7 PM at St. Joseph in Covington

This is not a holy day of obligation, but we are encouraged to make every good effort to start the holy season of lent by attending Mass on Ash Wednesday.

"The Priest/Deacon says the prayer for blessing the ashes. He sprinkles the ashes with holy water, without saying anything. Then he addresses all those present and only once says the formula as it appears in the Roman Missal, applying it to all in general: “Repent, and believe in the Gospel”, or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return”.

The Priest then cleanses his hands, puts on a face mask and distributes the ashes to those who come to him or, if appropriate, he goes to those who are standing in their places. The Priest takes the ashes and sprinkles them on the head of each one without saying anything."

From the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 12 January 2021.

Robert Card. Sarah

Prefect

+Arthur Roche

Archbishop Secretary