Lent & Easter 2025
Here are the Church’s Lenten guidelines for helping us grow in repentance and detachment through penance:
Fasting: On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, fasting rules enjoin Catholics to eat only one full meal and two smaller meals which, combined, would not equal a single normal meal. Additionally, Catholics may not eat meat on these two days–or on any Friday during Lent.
Abstinence: Abstinence refers to “abstaining” from meat on Ash Wednesday and on Fridays during Lent. Whereas Catholics fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday with just one large meal, Catholics must refrain from eating meat on other Fridays, though they can have three full meals.
Subjects: Those ages 18-59, in reasonable health, are required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Those 14 and older must abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent. For young children not fasting, parents should still communicate the meaning and penance. Children, adults with physical and mental illness, pregnant women, and those nursing are all exempt from fasting. Common sense should prevail and no one should jeopardize their health to fast.
Please see below for practical ways you can enter more deeply into Lent this year!
PRAY
Most Blessed Sacrament Chapel open Monday-Friday 6am-9pm; Saturday-Sunday 7am-9pm.
Exposition & Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament in the Church: Wednesdays 6:30-8pm.
Stations of the Cross Fridays 7pm in the Church (bilingual).
Hallow App: Pray40 daily meditations for Lent.
Playlist of sacred music for Lent, on Spotify.
Simple Daily Lenten Challenges
Holy Thursday Walking Pilgrimage: April 18, immediately following the 7pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
Celebrate
Ash Wednesday March 5, Masses with Imposition of Ashes: 7am, 9am, 12pm, 6pm, 7:30pm (bilingual); no confessions.
Palm Sunday April 13, regular schedule of Masses: 7:30am, 9am, 10:30am (Procession from Clarendon Square at 10:20), 12pm Spanish (procession from Clarendon Square at 11:50), 6pm.
Holy Thursday April 17 Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper: 7pm (bilingual), followed by a walking pilgrimage. Parish office closed.
Good Friday April 18, Celebration of the Lord’s Passion: 3pm (bilingual); 7pm Stations of the Cross; no confessions. Parish office closed.
Holy Saturday April 19, Blessing of Easter Food: 9:00am (Chapel); Easter Vigil Mass: 8pm (bilingual); no confessions.
Easter Sunday April 20, Masses: 7:30am, 9am, 10:30am,12pm Spanish; no 6pm Mass.
Easter Monday April 21, 9am Mass only; no confessions. Parish office closed.
Confessions: Mondays & Fridays, 6:30 - 7pm; Wednesdays 6:30-8:00pm; Saturdays: 3:30 - 4:30pm. No confessions on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, or Easter Monday.
Learn
Thomistic Institute Talk March 10, 7pm: Join Fr. Stephen Ryan, O.P. for his lecture on Psalms and the Grace of Conversion.
Lenten Small Groups Grow your faith through Catholic community in a 6-week men’s or women’s group.
Weekly Bible Study reflections on Sunday readings: Fridays 10-11:30am.
St. Charles Podcast listen to homilies and reflections from the priests at St. Charles.
FORMED online Catholic resources (talks, movies, books & audio).
Recommended Videos: instituteofcatholicculture.org, focusequip.org, youtube.com/ascensionpresents.
Dynamic Catholic: “Best Lent Ever” daily Lenten video reflections.
Abiding Together Podcast Book Study
share
Bishop’s Lenten Appeal: support diocesan ministries & services.
Soup & Stations: meatless soup dinner, Fridays at 6pm, Parish Center; Stations of the Cross, 7pm, Church.
Second Collections: Black & Indian Missions, Feb. 18; Catholic Relief Services, Mar. 10.
Outreach to our neighbors in need.
Volunteer as an Usher, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, or in another ministry.
Decorate our Church for Easter: April 19 in the morning.