Credit: Jennifer Balaska
Monsignor Michael Picard of Saint Andrew’s Catholic Church in Newtown awoke to a full schedule Wednesday. The longtime priest was preparing for the day’s Lenten services that are a big draw for the parish.
The monsignor spoke of the significance of the six weeks of Lent for Catholics and Christians. There are three important takeaways: prayer, sacrifice and doing charity to benefit those less fortunate.
One noticeable aspect of Wednesday’s services was the ash cross placed on the foreheads of worshipers. The ashes are placed in the sign of a cross to represent the suffering of Jesus Christ. It also reminds the faithful that they will not be here forever and will be in a new glorified state, Picard said.
Pope Francis noted that 2016 is the Year of Mercy, a theme throughout the Lenten season.
It is the sacrifices that people make during Lent extending mercy to others rather than being judgmental to those who may be difficult or troublesome, Picard said.
Reverend Michael C. DiIorio of Saint Michael the Archangel in Levittown started his parish’s preparations the day before the mass. The green decorations in the church were replaced with violet ones, the color of the Lenten season. DiIorio also explained it is the season of penance, a time to mend fences with others.
During Lent, fasting and abstinence is a tradition that is followed by many. Fasting refers to consuming a lesser amount of food while abstinence, mainly observed on Fridays, refers to giving up meat which hundreds of years ago was food that only the wealthy would eat and fish was a poor man’s meal.
St. Michael’s is having three retreats for the Lenten season: one for their young parishioners, one for men and another for women. In addition, 40 church members will be delivering meals to those members who are shut in and also helping with any errands they may need completed. This is in line with the service given to others, said DiIorio.
At St. Andrew’s, parishioners take home a rice bowl which is a special box that they set at their table at mealtime and contribute the cost of that meal. It is their choice as to the number of meals they would like to contribute money towards. The boxes will be returned on Palm Sunday.
The Bucks County priests’ words echo those of Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput.
“The healthiest way for each of us to live Lent is to reflect on our mortality and take a hard, clear look at the behavior and choices that guide our typical day. If we don’t like some of what we see — and that should include every one of us, if we’re honest — then Lent is the time to begin changing our direction.”
