Dear Epiphany Parishioners,
Now that we have had a chance to transition into 2021 with all of our hopes and promises in the Lord, we can begin to set our eyes of faith towards Lent and Ash Wednesday, which falls on February 17th this year. We will have our regular schedule of services on Ash Wednesday, which will be Mass at 9am, 5pm and 7pm, and a Liturgy of the Word at 12:00pm (noon). All of the services on Ash Wednesday will have have the distribution of the blessed ashes. The noon service will be live-streamed and will be available on our parish website for those who will join us in spiritual communion.
The manner by which we distribute ashes on Ash Wednesday this year will be modified in order to incorporate health and safety precautions. I am calling it "contactless ash distribution." In accordance with the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship guidelines for this Ash Wednesday, we will be sprinkling ashes on the crown of the people's head as they come up to receive ashes in order to avoid direct physical contact. There will be five lines where, as in previous years, the Eucharistic Ministers will also serve as distributors of the blessed ashes. We are still at 50% capacity (750 people) in the church at this time. I believe that these safety precautions will allow us to reverently and safely begin our Lenten journey in faith.
Also during this Lent, we are (similar to this past Advent) adding the Confession time of 5pm-6pm on Fridays during Lent. We will still have a community recitation of the Stations of the Cross on Fridays at 7:00pm in the church. The Knights of Columbus will also have a modified Fish Fry on Fridays during Lent by online preorder only. You can place your fish fry "to go" order at our parish website.
There may be other adjustments that we will have to make as we progress along the holy path of Lenten sacrifice. We hope you will join us on February 17th as the Church enters into the solemn penitential Season of Lent.
Faithfully yours in Christ,
Rev. Tom Lam
Pastor