Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the penitential season of Lent, and falls on Feb. 14 this year. We will have Mass with distribution of blessed ashes at the following times:
- 9:00am at St. Mary’s
- 12:30pm at the WCU Catholic Student Center
- 5:30pm at St. Mary’s (bilingual)
Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence. Abstinence means abstaining from flesh meat (fish is OK, as are broths prepared from meat stock) and applies to all Catholics 14 and older. Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence. Fasting means limiting food intake to one meal per day, but does not preclude taking additional food if necessary to sustain strength, as long as it does not equal a full meal. Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
In addition, the Church highly recommends that the faithful take on additional fasting, prayer and works of charity during the season of Lent.