Stations of the Cross for Friday, February 26:
Click here to view this week's video!
Special thanks this week to Lynda Petrocelli, Jeff Broderick, Beth Meagher, Ernie Andreoli, and Claire Gmachl.
Please feel free to join with us in person or via live stream this evening at 7:00pm. And look for a new video of Stations of the Cross each Friday at 3:00pm.
And check out our Lent 2021 page for more resources to enhance this year's Lenten journey!
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection. Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the Church's blessing and help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice. With the ashes, we recognize that we have sinned but ready for transformation, and that is why the Church reminds us of this reality, saying: "remember that you are dust and to dust you will return."
Ash Wednesday is also a way to admit the ways in which we are not living the best we could be. It is a time for continued reflection and preparation to celebrate the Holy Week, in expectation that God will touch our hearts to begin a new way of living. Lent is a beautiful time to recognize and remember that God walks with us. It is a process of change over 40 days. It is a time to be strengthened through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
The distribution of ashes comes from a ceremony of ages past. Christian who had committed grave faults used to perform public penance. On Ash Wednesday, the Bishop blessed the hair shirts they were to wear during the forty days of penance and sprinkled over them ashes made from the previous year's palms. Then, while the faithful recited the seven penitential psalms, the penitents were turned out of the Church because of their sins. The penitents did not enter the Church again until the beginning of the Lord's Supper (on Holy Thursday), after having reconciliation and sacramental absolution. Later, all Christians, whether public penitents or simply standard sinners, came to receive ashes out of devotion.
It is important to remember that this year due to the pandemic situation, things will look a little bit different. Ashes will be distributed at the end of Mass (rather than after the homily), after the priest prays the prayer after communion and concludes the Mass. After the final blessing, the faithful will come forward to receive ashes (we will use a clean Q-tip on each person's forehead) and then depart in silence.
May the Lord continue to bless us all during this time of preparation for Easter Triduum and may the Virgin Mary intercede for each of us, imploring God grant his blessings in our everyday lives.
Blessings,
Fr Miguel, Pastor
Please note this year's Ash Wednesday Schedule:
Masses in English at 8:15am, 12:10pm, and 5:30pm
Mass en Espanol at 7:00pm
Walk-in ashes from 9:00am-11:00am and 2:00pm-4:00pm
Reservations are required to attend Mass in person. All Masses will also be live streamed on the parish website and social media. Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation and the dispensation to attend Mass for the faithful of the Diocese of Trenton from Bishop O'Connell remains in place.
Each year, the Bishop seeks the support of all the members of the diocese to further the work of our ministries. Your donation is important in building up our Church. Each of us has a vital part in all we do in Christ's name and each of us can share in all we do with a gift to the Annual Catholic Appeal. Our single Act of Faith propels the works of love that build up our Church. St. Paul's share of the diocesan goal is $151,000. We truly need everyone to participate. Our parish will receive a 15% rebate when we collect funds equal to our parish goal. The Bishop is always grateful and moved by the level of support you give to your parish and diocese. Thank you and may God continue to bless you and your family. Please contact the parish office for more information or click here to be redirected to the diocesan Catholic Appeal Page for more information or to make an online gift/pledge.
Beginning February 20, we will offer a weekly Holy Hour of Adoration. Saturday mornings, from 7am until 8am, come spend some time with our Eucharistic Lord. We will begin with the rosary and wrap up with the Divine Mercy Chaplet. All are welcome to join us.
St. Paul Parish is seeking a parish accountant to become a team member of our faith-based team. The ideal candidate will be detailed-oriented, hold a bachelor's degree in Accounting, and possess excellent communication skills. This position assists with the ministry of the parish by maintaining the parish accounting records, processing receivables and payables, and administering payroll. This position also requires regular communication with the parish pastor, other staff members, and the parish school. If this is an environment that is appealing to you, please submit your application to mvalle@stpaulsofprinceton.org
