Saint Michael College

Cantilan, Surigao del Sur

CHRISTIAN FORMATION OFFICE

February 27, 2017

ASH WEDNESDAY AND LENTEN OBSERVANCE

1. With the onset of the holy season of Lent, holy Mother Church once again
reminds us of the great salvific act of redemption wrought for us by our Savior and
thereby calls us to intensify our works of penance, prayer and charity.

2. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday which on this year falls on March 1, 2017. We
will all attend the Mass scheduled at 8:00 am on that day at the Immaculate Conception
Parish church and receive the blessed ashes symbolizing our mortality and need for
penance.

3. The selection and number of offerers is left to the discretion of each department
head. The Christian Formation Office will take charge of the readers and the Music Club
/ choirs of the GS, HS and College Departments will take care of the music.

4. A note on the observance of Lent is attached herewith. We are requesting each

department head to inform everyone about the Church’s Lenten discipline.

5. Beginning on Friday, March 3, in prayerful remembrance of the Passion of our

Lord Jesus Christ, the Stations of the Cross will be done each morning at 7:15 in
place of the usual flag ceremony. This will be facilitated by the sponsoring department:
Grade School (March 3), Junior and Senior HS (March 10) and College (March 17).

6. As what our Holy Father Pope Francis reminds us, the annual Lenten season is a
favorable time to overcome our existential alienation by listening to God’s word and by
practicing the works of mercy. In the corporal works of mercy we touch the flesh of
Christ in our brothers and sisters who need to be fed, clothed, sheltered, visited; in the
spiritual works of mercy – counsel, instruction, forgiveness, admonishment and prayer –
we touch more directly our own sinfulness. The corporal and spiritual works of mercy
must never be separated. By touching the flesh of the crucified Jesus in the suffering,
sinners can receive the gift of realizing that they too are poor and in need.

7. May the Holy Spirit guide each of us in our Lenten journey and help us in turning
away from sin in order to be faithful to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus.

8. Immediate dissemination of this memorandum is directed.

Gratefully yours in Christ,

SR. MA. TERESA QUIAPOS, SPC MR. FRANCIS CARMELLE T. DUERO

Christian Formation Coordinator Campus Minister

Approved by:

SR. VIVINA M. INIT, SPC

Directress
 LITURGICO - SPIRITUAL NOTE ON THE OBSERVANCE OF LENT

The Season of Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday before the
Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper. From then on until Easter Sunday the Church
celebrates the Easter Triduum of Christ’s passion and death, burial, and resurrection.

Lent is characterized by penance for our past sins, works of mercy especially toward the
poor, and personal preparation for the renewal of our baptismal promises on Easter
Vigil. Thus Lent has two features: penitential and baptismal. Our tears of penance
renew in our hearts and souls the water of Baptism.

On Ash Wednesday, ashes are imposed on the foreheads of the faithful. These ashes
remind us that we are dust and to dust we shall return and that therefore the entire life
of a Christian should be marked by works of self-denial and generosity. The traditional
discipline of Lent consists of:

 constant prayer and reading of God’s word

 fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
 abstinence from meat on Fridays
 works of mercy especially to those who have less in life.

What is important is that through prayer and good works we allow God’s grace to bring
about our interior conversion. The Sacrament of Penance should accompany our
Lenten observance.

ABSTINENCE: All Catholics who have reached their 14 th birthday are bound to
abstain totally from meat on the following days: Ash Wednesday, all
Fridays of Lent, and Good Friday.

FASTING: All Catholics between their 18th and 59th birthdays are also bound
to observe the Law of Fast on the following days: Ash Wednesday
and Good Friday. This practice involves limiting oneself to a single
full meal and avoiding food between meals. Light sustenance may
be taken on two other occasions in the course of the day.

LITURGICAL
NOTES: In order that the penitential character of the season be preserved,
the use of flowers as decoration and during the offertory, and the
singing of Alleluia and the Gloria during liturgical celebrations are
forbidden.

Therefore, the annual observance of Lent is the special season for our ascent to the
holy mountain of Easter. Through the twofold theme of repentance and baptism, the
season of Lent disposes the faithful to celebrate the paschal mystery. Listening more
intently to the word of God and devoting ourselves to prayer, penance, and works of
charity, we are prepared to renew our baptismal commitment to the Lord.