Pastors Note
Ordinary Time
What does that mean when we say "Ordinary Time," "Liturgical Season," "Season"? Will it means a lot if you are a liturgist, if you work in the church, and if you are the type of person who notices changes in a church. Since the beginning of December the church has transitioned into 3 different seasons. We began our liturgical year with Advent, which for 4 weeks prepared us for the celebration of Christmas. A few Sunday's ago we celebrated the Baptism of the Lord marking the end of the Christmas Season, and began Christ's mission. Two Mondays ago we began the season of Ordinary Time. You may be saying "Yea, and so what." "What does this have to do with my life?" Ultimately not a lot. But it can help set you into a church mode, a church way of seeing things differently throughout the year. Just as the Earth and the universe forces us to continually see and experience things new through changes and seasons. The church try's to help us experience Christ in new ways too.
Seven years ago around this very time, I began to celebrate Ordinary Time for the first time in a new way. As a priest. I celebrated it many times before mainly on the weekend. But that first year I can remember putting on a green stole for the first time to celebrate "Monday the first week of Ordinary Time" and I have know idea for the life of me why it was exciting? Ha ha ha, but it was. We celebrate the major portion of Ordinary Time throughout summer. But for just a few weeks, about 6 we begin to celebrate this season just before the season of Lent begins. But why get so excited for Ordinary Time? I'll let you know next week. For now I would like to invite you to allow yourself to experience Christ in The Ordinary... In the here and now.
Frank T. Natale MSC
Ordinary Time
What does that mean when we say "Ordinary Time," "Liturgical Season," "Season"? Will it means a lot if you are a liturgist, if you work in the church, and if you are the type of person who notices changes in a church. Since the beginning of December the church has transitioned into 3 different seasons. We began our liturgical year with Advent, which for 4 weeks prepared us for the celebration of Christmas. A few Sunday's ago we celebrated the Baptism of the Lord marking the end of the Christmas Season, and began Christ's mission. Two Mondays ago we began the season of Ordinary Time. You may be saying "Yea, and so what." "What does this have to do with my life?" Ultimately not a lot. But it can help set you into a church mode, a church way of seeing things differently throughout the year. Just as the Earth and the universe forces us to continually see and experience things new through changes and seasons. The church try's to help us experience Christ in new ways too.
Seven years ago around this very time, I began to celebrate Ordinary Time for the first time in a new way. As a priest. I celebrated it many times before mainly on the weekend. But that first year I can remember putting on a green stole for the first time to celebrate "Monday the first week of Ordinary Time" and I have know idea for the life of me why it was exciting? Ha ha ha, but it was. We celebrate the major portion of Ordinary Time throughout summer. But for just a few weeks, about 6 we begin to celebrate this season just before the season of Lent begins. But why get so excited for Ordinary Time? I'll let you know next week. For now I would like to invite you to allow yourself to experience Christ in The Ordinary... In the here and now.
Frank T. Natale MSC
Welcome Father Frank Natale MSC
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LENTEN REGULATIONS 2021 February 17, 2021 is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Season of Lent.
ABSTINENCE
All Catholics who have reached their 14th birthday are bound to abstain totally from meat on the following days: Ash Wednesday, Fridays of Lent, & Good Friday.
FASTING
All Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are bound also to observe the Law of Fast on the following days: Ash Wednesday (February 17) and Good Friday (April 2). Fasting, that is, eating less, involves limiting oneself to a single full meal and avoiding food between meals. Lighter nourishment may be taken on two other occasions in the course of the day.
PRAYER & PENANCE
The entire season of Lent should be observed in a spirit of prayer and penance. Spending extra time in prayer or Bible study, attending daily Mass, voluntary sacrifice and self-denial, combined with works of charity and service to others, are all excellent ways to obey the Lord's command to reform our lives and to prepare for the joyful celebration of Easter. Parishes are highly encouraged to offer periods of Eucharistic Adoration during the Lenten Season, as well as, the traditional devotions of the Stations of the Cross and the recitation of the Rosary.
SACRAMENT OF PENANCE
Parishes throughout the Diocese are encouraged to offer increased opportunities for the Sacrament of Penance. Due to the pandemic many parishes are not offering their customary Penance Services. Instead, parishes are finding success offering different times for confessions (e.g. after a weekday evening Mass or with a Day of Mercy—with confessions throughout the day). Priests who are elderly and/or with compromised immune systems are encouraged to reach out to neighboring priests for assistance covering hours of confession. In addition, other occasions for the Sacrament of Penance should be made available during the Lenten Season and the Sacred Triduum.
In a reflection on the Sacrament of Penance, the Apostolic Penitentiary stated:
Where the individual faithful find themselves in the painful impossibility of receiving sacramental absolution, it should be remembered that perfect contrition, coming from the love of God, beloved above all things, expressed by a sincere request for forgiveness (that which the penitent is at present able to express) and accompanied by votum confessionis, that is, by the firm resolution to have recourse, as soon as possible, to sacramental confession, obtains forgiveness of sins, even mortal ones (cf. CCC, no. 1452). Note from the Apostolic Penitentiary on the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the current pandemic (vatican.va)
EASTER DUTY
All Catholics who have reached the age of reason must confess their serious sins in the Sacrament of Penance at least once a year. They must also receive Holy Communion at least once each year between the First Sunday of Lent (February 21) and Trinity Sunday (May 30).
MARRIAGE
Although other seasons are more suitable, the celebration of marriage and the Nuptial Mass are not forbidden during Lent, according to The Code of Canon Law. When liturgical rules permit, the Ritual Mass for the Celebration of Marriage may be used, and the nuptial blessing may be given. However, you should advise the spouses and their guests to exercise proper restraint in accord with the penitential character of Lent.
OBLIGATION
All Christ’s faithful are obliged by divine law to do penance. The days set aside for fast and abstinence in Lent are special ways of doing penance and are an expression of unity for all the Church.
CHRISM MASS
Due to the pandemic, participation in this year’s Chrism Mass is reserved to the clergy, religious, deacon candidates and seminarians. It will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg on Tuesday of Holy Week March 30th at 1.00pm. The Faithful will be able to participate via livestream at https://www.rcdony.org/livemass. Details pertaining to this event will be forthcoming.
FUNERALS DURING THE SACRED TRIDUUM
On Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, Funeral Masses may not be celebrated. However, a Funeral Service consisting of the Liturgy of the Word and the Final Commendation may be held in Church.
ABSTINENCE
All Catholics who have reached their 14th birthday are bound to abstain totally from meat on the following days: Ash Wednesday, Fridays of Lent, & Good Friday.
FASTING
All Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are bound also to observe the Law of Fast on the following days: Ash Wednesday (February 17) and Good Friday (April 2). Fasting, that is, eating less, involves limiting oneself to a single full meal and avoiding food between meals. Lighter nourishment may be taken on two other occasions in the course of the day.
PRAYER & PENANCE
The entire season of Lent should be observed in a spirit of prayer and penance. Spending extra time in prayer or Bible study, attending daily Mass, voluntary sacrifice and self-denial, combined with works of charity and service to others, are all excellent ways to obey the Lord's command to reform our lives and to prepare for the joyful celebration of Easter. Parishes are highly encouraged to offer periods of Eucharistic Adoration during the Lenten Season, as well as, the traditional devotions of the Stations of the Cross and the recitation of the Rosary.
SACRAMENT OF PENANCE
Parishes throughout the Diocese are encouraged to offer increased opportunities for the Sacrament of Penance. Due to the pandemic many parishes are not offering their customary Penance Services. Instead, parishes are finding success offering different times for confessions (e.g. after a weekday evening Mass or with a Day of Mercy—with confessions throughout the day). Priests who are elderly and/or with compromised immune systems are encouraged to reach out to neighboring priests for assistance covering hours of confession. In addition, other occasions for the Sacrament of Penance should be made available during the Lenten Season and the Sacred Triduum.
In a reflection on the Sacrament of Penance, the Apostolic Penitentiary stated:
Where the individual faithful find themselves in the painful impossibility of receiving sacramental absolution, it should be remembered that perfect contrition, coming from the love of God, beloved above all things, expressed by a sincere request for forgiveness (that which the penitent is at present able to express) and accompanied by votum confessionis, that is, by the firm resolution to have recourse, as soon as possible, to sacramental confession, obtains forgiveness of sins, even mortal ones (cf. CCC, no. 1452). Note from the Apostolic Penitentiary on the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the current pandemic (vatican.va)
EASTER DUTY
All Catholics who have reached the age of reason must confess their serious sins in the Sacrament of Penance at least once a year. They must also receive Holy Communion at least once each year between the First Sunday of Lent (February 21) and Trinity Sunday (May 30).
MARRIAGE
Although other seasons are more suitable, the celebration of marriage and the Nuptial Mass are not forbidden during Lent, according to The Code of Canon Law. When liturgical rules permit, the Ritual Mass for the Celebration of Marriage may be used, and the nuptial blessing may be given. However, you should advise the spouses and their guests to exercise proper restraint in accord with the penitential character of Lent.
OBLIGATION
All Christ’s faithful are obliged by divine law to do penance. The days set aside for fast and abstinence in Lent are special ways of doing penance and are an expression of unity for all the Church.
CHRISM MASS
Due to the pandemic, participation in this year’s Chrism Mass is reserved to the clergy, religious, deacon candidates and seminarians. It will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg on Tuesday of Holy Week March 30th at 1.00pm. The Faithful will be able to participate via livestream at https://www.rcdony.org/livemass. Details pertaining to this event will be forthcoming.
FUNERALS DURING THE SACRED TRIDUUM
On Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, Funeral Masses may not be celebrated. However, a Funeral Service consisting of the Liturgy of the Word and the Final Commendation may be held in Church.