There will be no Confession and Adoration at St. John Thursday, March 2. Daily Masses resume Friday, March 3 for First Friday, but there is no Adoration, only Confessions, after the 8:30 AM Mass at St. Elizabeth. Stations of the Cross will be at all three parish churches Friday.
These ashes, blessed by the priest, become a sacramental that we wear today as a sign of our attempts to repent and reform, to do penance for our sins. The black, powdery ashes are the burned remains of last year’s holy palms from Palm Sunday. They are a symbol from old times of repentance and mourning. We recall Old Testament figures putting on sackcloth and covering themselves with ashes. We hear the priest or designated minister say, as he presses the ash on our forehead, "Remember, man you are dust and to dust you shall return," or "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel."
There will be a special collection on Ash Wednesday to support Vermont Catholic Charities. This agency provides financial and emotional support to individuals and families throughout Vermont through the programs offered which include Counseling, Emergency Aid, Prison Ministry, and Residential Care Homes. The clients that come to our "doors" are some of the most vulnerable in our communities. The work that you will support will help transform people's lives. Donations can be made through our website bups://www.vermontcatholic , charities/ash-wednesday:appeal/ or by mailing a check to Vermont Catholic Charities, 55 Joy Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403. Please know that every gift—whatever the size—makes a difference. Thank you for your generosity.
Masses are: 8:30 AM at St. John; 12:00 PM Noon - St. John; 7:00 PM - St. Elizabeth. Today we begin our penitential journey to the Church’s greatest Solemnity, Easter Sunday. The word Lent derives from a German word for spring. This day, we fast and abstain from meat following Church guidelines. Our priest wears purple vestments, we no longer pray the Gloria or sing the Alleluia, and church decorations are spare. All music must be instrument accompanied singing. Honoring saint feast days, except for Solemnities (St. Joseph, the Annunciation) is optional. Some writers describe this paring down and reducing as reflections of the penitent’s losing, casting off the encumbrances that bar our salvation. "Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation!" said St. Paul.
On many Saturdays, the priest celebrating the day's Mass may choose a Mass of Our Lady. This memorial is optional: the priest instead may use readings and prayers for the calendar day.
Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras in French, is the day before Ash Wednesday. It takes its name from the old tradition of eating butter, eggs, animal fats, and meat for the last time before the Lenten fast that forbid these foods. Today, we abstain from these items only if we choose to give them up for Lent. Fat Tuesday often was, and still is, a last chance for merrymaking before the solemn, 40-day penitential season leading to Easter. Catholic in many countries celebrate the day by making pancakes and doughnuts, which include lots of fat, butter, and eggs. Mardi Gras today sees parades and often wild celebrations such as in New Orleans. The term Shrove Tuesday comes from an old word for confessing one’s sins, or being shriven. Penitents would seek Confession on this day to enter the Lenten season with a clean soul. The day’s colors are green, purple, and gold: gold for God’s power, purple for his royal justice, and green for our faith and hope for eternal life.
Deacon Tom will speak about parables in Chapters 22 and 25 of the Gospel of Matthew. In his account of Jesus' last three sermons, Matthew presents some of Jesus' most provocative parables that teach about topics like the Kingdom, Mercy, and Preparing for the Lord's Return. This Bible Study will explore the context and purpose of these stories and the teaching that the Lord intended His followers to take from them. Each week will focus on one of the three themes mentioned above. We meet downstairs at St. John's at 1:00 PM. Please tell your friends!
The church’s calendar of saints retains St. Valentine but not in a prominent spot because his life story is not verified. However, in the U.S., St. Valentine’s Day is celebrated with many tokens of love, especially romantic love. The real St. Valentine was a third-century martyr, maybe a priest, persecuted under a Roman emperor. Valentine’s legend says he married couples in secret Christian ceremonies, performed miracles, converted enemies, and once signed a note, “Your Valentine.”
The Corpus Christi Conference of Vincentians will be at the church doors after Masses Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 12 to collect money donations for their charitable programs. Please be generous, and fill those soup pots.