Fasting and Abstinence are important and serious Lenten practices. Fasting means eating less food than usual, the equivalent of one meal per day. Abstinence means not eating meat. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence.
Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence from meat. Fasting obliges the faithful from 18 to 59 years. Abstinence obliges the faithful from 14 years. There is a serious obligation on the part of Catholics to observe these penitential practices. Those with severe health problems and women who are pregnant are excused. Those not specifically obliged to fast or abstain are encouraged to join in the disciplines to the extent that they are able.
Tenebrae at 9:00am
Easter Vigil Mass at 7:00pm
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Masses at 7:30am, 9:00am, & 11:00am
11:00am Mass will be held in the Church only!
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1. Many parishes stay open throughout the three days of the Triduum. Give yourself and your family the gift of quiet time for prayers and reflection in church early in the morning or in the evening. St. Stephen's will be open on Holy Thursday until 11 p.m.; on Good Friday until 9:00 p.m. and Holy Saturday until 10 p.m.
2 Meditate on the same passage from Scripture every day and listen for how God is calling you.
3. Move the crucifix that you have in your home to the front door (or the door you use most) as a remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.
4. During Holy Week, turn off your car radio and pray silently. Stay off social media during the Triduum.
5. Gather canned goods and non-perishable food items from your cupboards to donate to the Warwick Food Pantry. Pray for all those people for whom fasting is not a choice.
HOLY THURSDAY -The Mass of the Lord's Supper - the institution of the Eucharist - the Washing of the Feet.
Talk about how Jesus is really present in Holy Communion and how sharing in his body strengthens us to become the Body of Christ and follow him each day.
Ask Yourself: "Do I take Christ's call to service seriously? "What are some ways that I 'wash the feet' of others in my daily life?"
GOOD FRIDAY - The Passion and Death of Jesus - perhaps as a family activity, do the Stations of the Cross.
Ask Yourself: What crosses do I bear in my own life? Am I strong enough to carry my cross as Jesus?
HOLY SATURDAY - The Easter Vigil - Before attending the Vigil as a family, talk about the symbols that help make this liturgy so rich - fire, water, oil, darkness, light. What emotions do these symbols bring forth in us? What is the Church teach- ing us through the use of these signs and symbols?
Ask yourself: Do I take my baptism seriously? What are some of the ways I feel called to live up to fulfill my baptismal promises?