Lent Begins on March 2

The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which this year falls on March 2, 2022. We will have multiple opportunities for people to receive blessed ashes both on campus and at St. Mary’s parish.

Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation, so there is no requirement to attend Mass. Catholics for centuries have marked the beginning of the penitential season of Lent by receiving blessed ashes as a sign of mortality and penance. To give the faithful as many opportunities as possible to receive blessed ashes, we will be celebrating both Masses and Liturgies of the Word, in addition to short liturgies outdoors on the UC Lawn every half hour from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM.

Ashes have been used as a sign of penance since Biblical times. Lent is a season of penance for the entire Church, so it is customary for the Church to publicly embark upon this season communally by receiving blessed ashes, traditionally made by burning the palms used in last year’s Palm Sunday celebration.

Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence.

• The law of fasting binds Catholics age 18-59. It allows for one meal per day, but does not preclude taking additional food if needed, as long as it does not equal an additional meal. Water and medication do not break the fast. Those with medical concerns are not bound to fast.
• Abstinence means abstaining from flesh meat (fish is OK) and is binding upon Catholics age 14 and up.

Every Friday during Lent is a day of abstinence. Good Friday is also a day of fasting. The faithful are encouraged to take on additional voluntary penances including fasting, prayer, and works of charity. The purpose of our Lenten penance is to help us turn our hearts and minds back to God in a renewed manner.

Campus Schedule for Ash Wednesday

• 1:00 PM | Mass in the chapel
• 3:00-5:00 PM | A brief liturgy with imposition of ashes will be offered every 30 minutes on the UC Lawn
• 7:30 PM | Liturgy of the Word with Distribution of Ashes in the chapel
• 8:00-9:00 PM | Holy Hour of Adoration and Evening Prayer

St. Mary’s Schedule for Ash Wednesday

• 7:30 AM | Liturgy of the Word with distribution of ashes
• 11:30 AM | Mass (English) with distribution of ashes
• 3:00 PM | Liturgy of the Word with distribution of ashes
• 5:30 PM | Confession
• 6:30 PM | Mass (Spanish) with distribution of ashes