Feb 11, 2021

Greetings,

This week we will be kicking off our season of lent with Ash Wednesday. Here are some liturgical events that you might want to keep in mind:

Ash Wednesday Masses: 9AM, 5:15 extraordinary form, and 7PM

Stations of the Cross & Benediction: Fridays at 7PM

Tuesdays: Adoration from 8AM until 8PM Compline & Benediction at 7:40. Confessions: Tuesday from 7 to 7:30PM Friday from 4 to 5PM Saturday from 9:30 to 10AM

This year, due to COVID, it was determined that there will not be the diocesan wide “Night of Confessions.” You may also notice that, off of our typical list of events for lent, we are not advertising our Friday afternoon Stations of the Cross. This is due to wanting to have the school present and concerns over having too many people in the Church. Please plan your lent well.

IN OTHER NEWS:

CHANGES IN THE RUBRICS FROM ROME: There are two changes in the rubrics that will take place on Ash Wednesday. One is envisioned as being for this year only and the other is a permanent change from Ash Wednesday forward.

CHANGE 1: Due to COVID, the distribution of ashes for this year only will change to be more like it is traditionally celebrated in many other countries. Instead of marking the foreheads of each individual with a cross of ashes, the ashes will be lightly sprinkled on the crown of each person’s head. It may sound odd to us, but the use of ashes in this fashion is a tradition with roots in the Old Testament. I turned to the Lord God, to seek help, in prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes” (Daniel 9:3).

At first I thought this was an option when pastoral sensitivity seemed to warranted it, but according to our diocesan liturgist, we are obliged to follow this rubric. This is what the rite will look like this year: The blessing of the ashes will take place in the usual manner. Then the celebrant will say one time to the entire congregation, “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” or Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Then, as each person comes forward, ashes are lightly sprinkled.

When I first heard this I will admit to rolling my eyes. It seemed to me an unnecessary precaution and I will miss seeing the mark on fellow Catholics’ foreheads, a public witness to the faith. On the other hand, this one year we can mark the novelty of it and be able to tell the young whippersnappers of the future, “Back in my day there was a year . . .”

CHANGE 2: This change is permanent and has nothing to do with COVID. At the end of the collect (the prayer at the beginning of Mass) the celebrant typically brings the prayer to a conclusion by saying, “We ask this through Our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your Son Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.” Starting on Ash Wednesday, the official English translation of the Missal will remove the word, “One,” as this is a more true translation of the Latin. Therefore, in all liturgical books, the corrected formula will be, “. . . in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.”

In the Angelus Letter this week there will be links for further information on this development.

MAIL, ENVELOPES & TAXES: It has been reported that some of you have not received your parish envelopes! (Some people who work in the rectory have not received them either!) This is being looked into but we suspect that the hold up may be in the postal lines.

Also, Milissa Smith, our business manager, wants to make sure that you have everything that you need when you are preparing your taxes. Because tax laws have changed, there will not be a general mailing of donation reports to the entire parish. If you have not received one and would like yours, or if you have a concern that yours is in mail limbo, please contact Milissa at (330) 836-2233. Hopefully the mail will have this situation sorted out soon.

MONDAY MASS & OFFICE SCHEDULE: Mass on Monday, February 15th (President’s Day) will be at 9AM. Our rectory offices will be closed on Monday.

CONFIRMATION RETREAT: Our confirmation candidates will be having their retreat this weekend. Please keep them in your prayers.

God bless,

Fr. Valencheck