Lenten Observances

Ash Wednesday- February 22, 2023

Mass at St. Paul 8:30 am & 7:00 pm

Ash Wednesday is mainly a Catholic observance in which ashes is marked on the forehead of parishioners in the shape of a cross.  The ashes are meant as a reminder of our mortality and sinfulness.  
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 40 day period (excluding Sundays) that ends with Easter.  This is a solemn period observed by prayer, repentance, fasting, and moderation.  Sundays are excluded as they are considered a celebratory day that represents the resurrection of Jesus and the Sabbath day of rest.

Other cluster Mass Times
St. George:      8:30 am English
                     6:00 pm (Bilingual Vietnamese)
 St. Edward:    10:30 am English
                     7:00 pm (Bilingual Spanish)
St. Peter:        10:30 am & 5:00 pm

Stations of the Cross & Lenten Meal

At. 6:00 pm on the Fridays of Lent, excluding Good Friday, one of our cluster parish communities will host the Stations of the Cross and a meatless meal.

February 24th   at St. Peter hosted by the St. Peter community
March 3            at St. Edward hosted by the Laotian community
March 10          at St. Paul hosted by the Knights of Columbus
March 17          at St. Edward hosted by the Filipino community
March 24          at St. George hosted by the Vietnamese community
March 31          at St. George hosted by the School families

Reconciliation Services

Catholics are also encouraged to make going to confession a significant part of their spiritual lives during Lent. Communal Services with the opportunity for individual confession are offered several times during Lent in the parish cluster.

March 14: 6:00 pm at St. Paul (no 6:00 pm Mass)
March 15: 7:00 pm at St Edward (no 6:00 pm Mass)
March 31 : 6:00 pm at St. George
March 16 : 7:00 pm at St. Peter

Lenten Small Prayer Groups

Our parish cluster is offering a 6-week Lenten series called “Around the Lenten Circle”.  The program includes prayer, sharing, and reflection on the Lenten readings, in a small faith-focused group.  Each group is designed to be 60-90 minutes.  There are a variety of groups, times, and locations including a young adult group, a St. George Moms’ group, and a Zoom group.  All groups will start the week of February 19.  This is a great way to meet others, build community, and intentionally grow in your faith during this reflective season  For more information, contact Jennifer at jibach@stedwardparish.net  Sign up on the way out of Mass or contact your parish office. 
The Archdiocese of Seattle website has weekly Lenten reflections as well as other resources. https://archseattle.org/lent/

Lenten Regulations

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.

CRS Rice Bowl

CRS Rice Bowl is Catholic Relief Services' Lenten faith-in-action program. It offers daily opportunities for your family to engage in the spiritual pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is an opportunity  to reflect on what it means to live out the Gospel call to go to the margins and encounter those most in need. Visit crsricebowl.org/families to learn more.