Merger Status: Parishioners have inquired on the progress of the merger of St. Francis Church with St. Andrew Church. As of today, we have not received any new information on the merger process. As reported to you on the weekend of November 21 & 22: “Recently, the Diocese has found it necessary to continue planning for the future. This new plan moves from yoking parishes, to the plan merging parishes together. On, November 3, 2020, we were informed that our parish families of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Andrew will be moving in this new direction. The good news in this process is that NO PARISH BUILDINGS WILL CLOSE! The merger of our parishes will affect us basically only on an administrative level.” We completed the first step by choosing a name for the new corporation of Guardian Angels, consisting of St. Andrew Church and St. Francis Church. The names of the two Churches will not change. Now that our new parish name has been accepted, we will move into the restructuring of our assets. Since both parishes are individual corporations, we will need to dissolve the current corporations, and erect a new one under the new parish name. What does this mean? It means eventually that all our assets will be merged into one: one finance council, one parish council, one checkbook, and one bulletin. This should not affect us too much, but, as we know more, we will inform you. In the end, the date chosen to begin our new parish will be July 1, 2021. This will enable us to begin our new parish family with time for the many preparations necessary.
FAST AND ABSTINENCE These regulations unite the whole Catholic Church throughout the world in the Lenten journey of repentance and conversion of heart. Observed in a spirit of generosity, fast and abstinence remind us of our own frailty and make us more sensitive to the needs of others. Acts of penance find their completion in works of charity and justice. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence The Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence. Fasting: Those between the ages of 18 and 59 years old are obliged to observe the laws on fasting. Traditionally, to fast means limiting oneself to one full meal in the day and two smaller meals. The two prescribed days of fasting are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Abstinence: The law of abstinence obliges all those who are over the age of 14. On days of abstinence meat is not eaten at any meal. The prescribed days of abstinence are Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent, including Good Friday. Those individuals who have a medical condition in which fasting or abstaining may be considered harmful are not obliged to fast or abstain, but should perform some other act of penance or charity. All parishioners are encouraged to do acts of penance and charity during the Lenten season beyond what is prescribed by law.
Stations of the Cross will be held every Friday in St. Francis of Assisi Church at 7:00pm. Also, the pre-recorded Stations of the Cross will be streamed from the Saint Andrew Facebook page at 6:30pm each week.
ASH WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2021 Mass with Ashes 9:00 AM & 10:30 AM Due to COVID restrictions, this year the distribution of Ashes will be done in a different way than normal, after blessing the ashes in the usual manner, the Priest pronounces a general prayer ONCE, cleanses his hands, puts on a facemask and SPRINKLES the ashes on top of the head of each person who approaches without saying anything.
If you would like the parish bulletin emailed to you, a friend, or a college student away from home, E-mail the parish office a request to be put on the email list. Parish E-mail address: cheryl@stfrancisassisilebanonct.org