Ash Wednesday observance schedule for parishes across Washington County

February 26, 2020 – Washington Co., WI – Ash Wednesday Mass schedules are below.

Saint Frances Cabrini: 8 a.m.

Saint Mary’s Immaculate Conception: 6:15 a.m., Noon and 7 p.m. in Spanish

Holy Angels: Word Service with Ash Distribution at 7 a.m., Mass with Ash Distribution at 8 a.m., Word Service with Ash Distribution at 12 p.m., Mass with Ash Distribution at 5:30 p.m.

Holy Trinity, Newburg: 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

St. Peter Catholic Church in Slinger at 8 a.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

St. Lawrence 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Resurrection Catholic Church in Allenton. Ash Wednesday Masses at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Good Shepherd Lutheran, 777 S. Indiana Ave, West Bend has Ash Wednesday service at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

St. John’s Lutheran West Bend services Wednesday 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.

St. Kilian in Hartford with Mass at 8:20 a.m., prayer service with ashes at 12 p.m., and Mass at 7 p.m.

St. John, Rubicon, 5:30 p.m. – Mass

Holy Trinity in Newburg at 6 p.m.

Ash Wednesday services will be held as follows at Holy Hill: 6 a.m. – St. Therese Chapel – Level 2 and 11 a.m. – Basilica – Level 3

Ash Wednesday, February 26. Penitence, the act of seeking forgiveness of sin, reconciliation with the church and strength against temptation, is part of Christian living all the time for everyone; although throughout the year we are free to choose our own forms of penitence (prayer, works of piety and charity, and self-denial by fulfilling one’s obligations more faithfully, as well as fast and abstinence), particular penitential days, practices and seasons are established by Church law in order to promote a common observance.

The penitential days and times in the Church universal are every Friday of the whole year & the season of Lent. All Fridays are days of penance in memory of the passion and death of Christ. Penitential practices during the season of Lent help us prepare and properly dispose our hearts, minds and souls to worthily celebrate Easter.

Penitence, according to Vatican Council II, should not be only an internal or individual matter but also external and social, uniting the Church militant in pursuit of the holiness that will unite us with the Church triumphant in the beatific vision that beholds God face to face in communion with the angels and saints!

During Lent, Catholics 14 years or older are bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays of Lent, including Good Friday.

Catholics 18 years of age or under 59 years of age are bound to both fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On days of fast and abstinence, only one full meatless meal is taken; two other small meatless meals sufficient to maintain health and strength may be taken according to personal needs but together should not equal a full meal.

Eating between meals is not permitted on Ash Wednesday or Good Friday, but liquids (milk, fruit juice, water, etc.) are allowed. When our health or ability to work would be adversely affected, the law does not oblige. To casually disregard these minimum practices is considered a grave matter; attending Mass on all Sundays and Holy days of Obligation, doing acts of charity and virtue, forgiveness and kindness are obligations in the everyday life of Catholics, especially during Lent.

EUCHARISTIC FAST – Abstaining for at least 1 hour before receiving Holy Communion fr om any food or drink (except medicine and
water) is specific and unrelated to the general penitential norms. This fast has no age limits but does provide exceptions for the elderly, the infirm and those who care for them; they may receive the Most Holy Eucharist even if they have eaten something within the preceding hour; priests saying multiple Masses also have an exception.