Lenten Confession Days:
- March 24, 6:30pm at St. Columban Parish
- March 25, 1pm at Blessed Sacrament
- March 26, 7pm at St. Finnan's Basilica
Come receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) and experience the beautiful mercy of God! There will be multiple priests to hear confessions.
We are all in need of the mercy of God. Sin is a conscious decision to stray from God’s will, and it harms our relationship with him. But there is no sin so great that it would cause God to cease in his love for us. Think of Jesus bending to meet the eyes of the woman caught in adultery, saying, “Neither do I condemn you.” (John 8:11). In such a way, God comes to meet us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, bending to meet our eyes and say, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”
To prepare to receive this beautiful sacrament, complete an Examination of Conscience, which helps you identify the sins you need to confess.
Fasting Guidelines?
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence. What does that mean for you?
What is fasting and abstinence?
Fasting means limiting what you eat and drink to one regular meal and two smaller meals (that together do not equal the regular meal in size). In the spirit of it, we typically also avoid any sweets or treats, like dessert or alcohol, and don’t snack between meals.
Abstinence means to cut out particular food items or drinks, specifically meat. While all Fridays are meant to be days of abstinence, in Canada the CCCB has decreed that “Catholics can substitute special acts of charity or piety on this day“.
Why do we fast?
Fasting isn’t a punishment for our sins. Instead, it’s a way to honour Jesus’ sacrifice and to unite our sufferings to his. He took on his shoulders our every sin and carried it with him to the cross. Fasting and abstaining for two days a year is a small way to show him our love and gratitude.
Fasting also helps form us in discipline. By saying no to something we crave, we can develop our self-control. A little self-denial is healthy. For those of us fortunate enough to have food to eat, it gives a hint of the suffering many in the world experience regularly.
Who has to fast and abstain?
If you are 14 or older, you must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. If you are between the ages of 18 and 59, you must also fast on those days.
What if I have a medical condition?
Not everyone can fast in the same way! Some people have medical conditions that make fasting dangerous. If this is the case, look for another way to fulfill the spirit of fasting while still taking care of your body. You could fast from desserts and rich food or choose to eat simple meals that day.
March 28/29: Palm Sunday, regular Sunday Masses
March 31:
- Holy Chrism Mass, 5pm, at Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, Ottawa
- please pray for your priests
April 2: Holy Thursday, 7pm at St. Francis de Sales Parish
April 3: Good Friday
- 3pm: at St. Francis de Sales Parish, and
- 3pm: at St. Columban Parish
April 4: Easter Vigil, 8pm at St. Columban Parish
April 5: Easter Sunday:
- 7:30am (CANCELLED) Mass at St. Columban
- 9:30am Mass at St. Francis de Sales
- 10:30am Mass at St. Columban
- 11am Mass at St. Francis de Sales
