• +  LENT 2023  +

  
  Lent is a holy season in our Church’s year. It is holy because it calls us in a special way to holiness and encourages us to adopt holy habits of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We should try to attend Mass as often as we can during Lent and pray the Rosary and make the Stations of the Cross.  We should try to make special sacrifices during Lent and practice acts of charity and almsgiving – and it is fortunate that the Cardinal’s Stewardship Appeal continues throughout Lent so that we have a very practical opportunity to assist the Church’s works of charity in New York. 
  
  During Lent the redder shade of purple is used if available, evoking the Blood of Jesus shed for us.  A somber tone and penitential spirit is noted in sanctuary appointments with silver candlesticks (as used in Rome for penitential seasons) and wood processional torches and cross.  The Pascal Candle (normally by the Baptismal Font) is put aside during Lent, brought out only for baptisms and funerals.  Flowers are noticeably absent. Dried natural materials and bare and thorny branches remind us of passion themes.
  
  We should try to practice some form of self-denial or self-discipline during Lent – so that we might in some small way identify ourselves with Christ who was crucified for us. All the Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence.  All Catholics above the age of 14 are obliged to abstain from meat on the days of abstinence (unless poor health excuses). Additionally, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of both fast and abstinence.  Not only is meat and foods made with meat prohibited, but on these two fast days, only one full meal is permitted. Two smaller meals may be taken to maintain strength, but these taken together should not equal another full meal.  Fasting obliges from age 18 to 59 (unless poor health excuses).
  
  The penitential nature of Lent calls for specific seasonal music as well. As in Advent, we will introduce a special Gathering Rite to the tune of “Remember Your Love.”  The Latin text of Sanctus and Agnus Dei in plain chant will be used at Mass.
  
  Consider joining us:
  
  Church is open for prayer
  Monday – Friday from 6:00am to 9:00pm
  Saturday from 7:00am to 7:00pm
  Sunday from 6:00am to 3:00pm
  
  Daily Mass
  Monday – Friday at 7:00am and *9:00am
  Friday at *7:00pm (followed by Stations)
  Saturday at *9:00am
  
  Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament
  Monday – Friday from 12noon to 3:00pm (Divine Mercy Chaplet and Benediction)
  
  Stations of the Cross
  Friday at *7:30pm (after the *7:00pm Mass)
  
  Reconcilliation Monday
  April 3rd, Reconcilliation Monday
  2-4pm and 6-9pm
  
  * Live streamed for the homebound here
   

• Holy Week 2023

  Date	Time		Activity
  April 1-Saturday	4-5:30pm		Confessions.
  	5:30pm		Mass with the blessing of Palms. Recitation of the Passion.
  April 2-Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion	7,8,9:30,11am* & 12:30pm		Mass with the blessing of Palms.  Recitation of the Passion.
  April 3-Monday	2-4 & 6-9pm 2-9pm		Reconciliation Monday, Confession Available. Eucharistic Adoration.
  April 3-5	7 & 9am*-Mon - Wed		Masses.
  Holy Week			No noonday Adoration during Holy Week.
  April 6-Holy Thursday	9am*		Tenebrae.
  	9:30am		Confession after Tenebrae.
  	12:00noon		Mass for those unable to attend the evening Mass.
  	7:00pm*		Solemn Mass of the Lord's Supper, concluding with
  	8:00pm-Midnight		Eucharistic Repository in Chapel.
  April 7-Good Friday	9am*		Tenebrae.
  Day of Fast & Abstinence	12noon*		Stations of the Cross.
  	3pm*		Celebration of the Lord's Passion with Veneration of the Cross, Holy Communion. Confession available after the service.
  	7pm		Celebration of the Lord's Passion with Veneration of the Cross, Holy Communion. Confession available after the service.
  April 8-Holy Saturday	9am*		Tenebrae.
  	10am		Blessing of Easter Foods (Auditorium).
  	11am		Easter Egg Hunt (weather permitting) backyard.
  	4-5:30pm		Confession (NO 5:30pm MASS).
  April 8-Easter Vigil	8pm*		Solemn Mass: Blessing of the New Fire; Easter Sacraments.
  April 9-Easter Resurrection of the Lord	7,8,9:30,11am* & 12:30pm		Masses in Church.                                                                                                                                No Confessions on Easter Sunday.
  *Livestreamed on our website: www.seton-parish.org