ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA CHURCH

P. O. BOX 70
SHELBURNE, VT  05482

TELEPHONE:
802-985-2372
www.SlelburneCatholic.org

Lent 2005

Dear Parishioners:

It seems like yesterday that we celebrated Christmas, the Birth of Christ Our Savior. And now we are quickly approaching Ash Wednesday (February 9th) the beginning of the Season of Lent, which means that Easter and Spring are not far away...thank God!

On Ash Wednesday the masses will be at 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM. As the ashes are placed on our foreheads, we will be reminded to "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel". This simple ceremony invites us to come back to the Lord with all our heart; to leave the past in ashes; to turn to God for He is slow to anger and ready to forgive us.

The purpose of Lent is to give us some time to change for the better. Lent nudges us to think about what is really important in life and encourages us to take some steps to live more closely in tune with the valves of a Christian. The traditional Lenten practices of prayer, self-denial, and good works help us to make some adjustments in our lives. Lent is not to be endured as an unwelcomed intrusion into our lives, but rather as an opportunity - an opportunity to turn from what is not Christian to what is authentically Christian and experience the warmth of God's love as we grow closer to Him in the mystery of the Trinity.

Lenten Activities

During Lent let us reflect and partake in a prayerful examination of our prejudices and personal failings that have caused broken relationships with family, friends, neighbors, and God. Remembering Jesus' prayer that "they all may be one," we will look for ways that we can contribute to greater unity, understanding and peace with all Christians and with all humankind.

To assist us in our efforts to become a more joy-fill person, Deacon Ivan Hawk has been invited to our parish to lead us in a Lenten Retreat entitled - "The Journey to Joy"! Deacon Hawk will preach at all three Masses on the weekend of February 12th and 13th and will continue to share with us on Monday the 14th, Tuesday the 15th and Wednesday the 16th, from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm in our beautiful Church. See en-
closed flyer.

Also, on March 4th and 5th (Friday & Saturday) we will host Thomas Rutkoski, the founder of a humanitarian and evangelizing Catholic non-profit foundation called Gospa Missions. He will share his conversion story on Friday March 4th and share a special story with our children & young adults on Saturday, March 5th. More to follow on this event.

In addition to the above suggested Lenten Activities our parish community is participating in Catholic Relief Services' Operation Rice Bowl. For 25 years Operation Rice Bowl has helped us to pray, fast and learn to give in order to build solidarity with all our brothers and sisters throughout the world. As we pray, fast, learn and give in preparation for Easter, we must see our actions and the actions of others as an oppor-tunity to express our relationship with God. Catholic Relief Services helps our less fortunate brothers and sisters in over 80 countries around the world, especially in Southeast Asia where the Tsunami tragedy occurred.

Families offer a special prayer at one meal a week, eat a simple, sacrificial meal, and place a sacrificial money donation in the "Rice Bowl". These donations can be turned into the parish during Holy Week, but no later than Easter Sunday. Of the amount collected, 75% goes to Catholic Relief Services and 25% remains in the Diocese for local needs.

If you have found yourself getting careless regarding your obligations to the Lord, use this Season of Lent to come back to the Lord your God with all your heart. Let's all pray together and work together for peace within ourselves, for peace with our God, with our families, our parish, our community, and above all, peace in the world. Please consult the bulletin for daily Mass schedules and other Lent activities.

May Lent be a season of renewal in Christ for all of us, and may Easter be a season of joy with the Risen Christ for all of us. Alleluia!!

Sincerely yours in Jesus & Mary,

Fr. Leo Bilodeau

Guidelines for Lent

1. The time of Lent is to be observed by Catholics as a special season of prayer, penance, and works of
charity.

2. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, in particular, are the most important penitential days of the liturgical
year. They are days of both fast and abstinence. All Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence.

3. The rule of fasting states that only one full meal a day can be taken. Two small meals, "sufficient to
maintain strength," are allowed but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between
meals breaks the fast but drinking liquids does not. The rule of fasting obliges all catholics from age
18 to 59.

4. Abstinence refers to the eating of meat. The common estimation of the community is used to determine
what falls under the category of meat. The rule of abstinence binds all Catholics 14 years or older.

HOME PAGE