Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 14, 2026 Bulletin Column Father De Celles
THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT. This Wednesday, the 18th, is Ash Wednesday, marking the start of Lent. This is the season for Catholics to really remember what it means to be a Catholic and grow in their faith, as we focus on the immense love of God that led Him to suffer and die for our sins. At the same time, then, it’s also a time to consider our sins—how we have failed to love him—and to work to overcome them, through our diligent efforts and cooperating with His grace. In short, it can be a time of intense growth in our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Lent, of course, brings a much busier parish schedule, which we’ve laid out in detail in this week’s “Lenten Schedule” insert. Please keep this insert in a central place in your home to remind you of the many opportunities for spiritual growth the parish offers this Lent.
Ash Wednesday. Ashes will be distributed at all Masses on Ash Wednesday: 6:30am, 8am, 12noon, 5pm and 7pm. Since ashes are merely symbolic (a “sacramental” not a “Sacrament”) they may be received by anyone who wishes to repent their sins, Catholic or not, in “good standing” or not. (Note: There are no confessions scheduled and Ash Wednesday).
Remember, Ash Wednesday is never a holy day of obligation, but we are highly recommended to attend Mass to begin Lent. Also, again, ashes are not sacrament, and their imposition is not itself a blessing (although the ashes have been blessed). Even so, the ashes are an important sign of and public witness to our faith in Christ Crucified, his Gospel of repentance, and His grace of forgiveness.
Nota bene: For the distribution/imposition I may wear a face mask. I’ve discovered it helps keep the ash particles out of my sinuses, and you know the problems my sinuses have been giving me lately.
Fasting and Abstinence. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of both fasting and abstinence, and every Friday in Lent is a day of abstinence.Failure to “substantially” keep these penances is grave matter (e.g., potentially a mortal sin).
The law of abstinence requires that no meat may be eaten on these days, and binds all Catholics who are 14 years old or older. No other penance may be substituted.
The law of fasting binds those who are between the ages of 18 and 59. The Church defines “fasting,” for these purposes, as having only one full meal a day, with two additional smaller meals permitted, but only as necessary to keep up strength and so small that if added together they would not equal a full meal. Snacking is forbidden, but that does not include drinks that are not of the nature of a meal.
Even though these rules do not bind all age groups, all are encouraged to follow them to the extent possible. Children in particular learn the importance of penance from following the practice of their older family members. The sick, pregnant or nursing mothers, and other folks with special physical circumstances may be partially or totally exempt from these rules—use good judgment and take care of yourself.
Doing Penance. Of course, all Catholics are encouraged to do personal acts of penance throughout the season of Lent, traditionally of three types: almsgiving (including acts of charity), sacrifice (what you “give up” or “endure”), and prayer. Challenge yourself, but pick things you can actually do, rather than things that are so difficult that you may will easily give up on them. Also, pick penances that clearly relate to your sins (e.g. for pride, pick some act of humility).
Offer all this in atonement for your sins and as acts of love for the God who, out of love, died on the Cross for your sins.
Advice. Let me suggest. 1) Do at least one simple/small act of penance from each of the three types. 2) Pick one act of penance that is more difficultor demanding. 3)And make one of these acts penance, even a small/simple act, be a daily occurrence, enduring throughout Lent.
So, for example, for “1” you could commit to saying one extra Our Father (“prayer”), and you could do that every day to cover “3”. Then you also give up drinking soda (“sacrifice”), and you give the money you save on soda to the poor box (“almsgiving”). And maybe for “2,” you can commit to going to Mass one extra day of the week (“prayer” and “sacrifice”).
Sacrament of Penance. Confession is absolutely the key to a fruitful Lent. I strongly encourage that you take advantage of our extended Lent confession schedule: we will hear confessions every day in Lent, except Ash Wednesday and Holy Thursday.
Please do not postpone your confession to the end of Lent. Spiritually it’s important to start the season on the right foot, so repent early that Christ’s grace may flow freely and unimpeded throughout the season. And practically, what so often happens is we have just a few people coming to confession every evening week during Lent, but then in the last week the lines are much longer.
Weekday Evenings. I addition to daily confessions and our regular schedule, we will also offer many other opportunities for deepening your Lenten experience. Consider:
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. We will have a 7pm Mass.(But not on Thursdays or Fridays).
Thursdays. This year our 5-part Lenten Series will be on Thursday evenings at 7pm, beginning February 26. It will be in the Parish Hall as a “stand alone” talk (not an “extended homily” at Mass). This year I will speak my favorite topic: “The Mass Explained.” This is a partially a reprise of a Lenten Series I gave 8 years ago, “The Eucharist and the Mass,” except that since Fr. Bergida gave his Advent Series on “the Eucharist” this time I will focus exclusively on the Mass itself. A lot of folks say that they don’t get much out of the Mass: I am convinced this is because they don’t really understand what’s going on, both in general, and in the specific parts of the Mass. I love the Mass, and, as I hope you know, it has been one of my primary goals as your pastor to help you to love the Mass as well. I hope this series will help you do that. (Btw: I promise to finish by 8pm).
Fridays. Once again we will have All-Night Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every Friday/Saturday in Lent, from after the Friday 8:30am Mass, continuing throughout the day and night until Saturday Morning before the 9am Mass. (Like we do every first Friday of the month). Experience a little bit of Good Friday every week. (And consider choosing this as one of your Lenten penances).
Also, every Friday evening we have Stations of the Cross at 7pm. Note the Exposed Blessed Sacrament will be temporarily reposed during the Stations (as the law requires), and exposed again immediately afterward.
And don’t forget the great opportunity for Lenten fellowship at our pot-luck Soup-Suppers at 5pm (if you bring something to eat that can be your penance of “almsgiving”).
Oremus pro invicem. Fr. De Celles