Good News - Church of the Redeemer
Transcription
Good News - Church of the Redeemer
Good News Volume XL Number 3 Inside this issue: Thank You Parish Council Year of Mercy Article March 2016 804-746-4911 DEBT FREE 2 3 7 YES, WE ARE!!! In January we paid off . . . AHEAD OF TIME . . . the balance on the loan that was taken out in 2005 to expand and improve Redeemer’s facilities. And it’s all thanks to you, the parishioners, and your generosity to the Building Fund through pledges, one-time or periodic contributions and financial memorials from the estates of deceased parishioners. Since Redeemer was founded in 1976, parishioners have paid off loans totaling $5,354,543, a phenomenal amount, especially considering the interest rates back in the beginning. We are truly blessed to have parishioners who are willing to share their treasure and make it possible to repay our loans in such a timely manner. Fr. Jay and the Finance Council humbly and graciously THANK each parishioner who contributed in any way to our various building fund drives. Your generosity is truly amazing. This could not have been accomplished without the financial help of each of you. Schedules Anniversaries Birthdays 10-15 At our annual picnic on May 15, there will be a note-burning ceremony to help celebrate our 40th anniversary. What perfect timing! The current monthly Building Fund envelope will be continued through April. Please continue to use it until then, when it will be replaced by a Maintenance and Repairs envelope so that we may have funds on hand should the HVAC system decide it’s tired and has had enough. The purpose of this envelope will be to help fund a financial reserve for maintenance issues that may arise – roof repair/replacement, heat pump maintenance, painting, plumbing repairs, electrical repairs, etc. Anyone who can do so is asked to contribute to this fund. Just like our own homes, we have to maintain the Lord’s house, too. And “things” can and will break down and need repair/replacement. Should you have any questions about this or any other financial concerns, please contact any member of the Finance Council: Bill Michie, Chairman; Mary Atkinson; Tim Cook; Bob Davis; Chris Fallon; Tom Grasberger; Teresa Kulinowski; Sharon Phillips; and Michelle Vucci. Again, THANK YOU and GOD BLESS YOU for the gift of your continued support! GOOD NEWS www.churchredeemer.org Page 2 Dear Church of the Redeemer Family, I want to express my sincere “thank you” to everyone who participated in the “Welcoming” package of cookies, literature, etc, especially Ken Diana. You all have made my day! At this time I plan on attending the new member orientation. I look forward to meeting you all. Thank you again, Diane Ingram Hanover Habitat for Humanity – Women Build Thank you to all of the ladies who came out on a bitterly cold weekend in February to improve our Mechanicsville community through Habitat! It is very moving to see the power of volunteerism in our community! I know the Searson family (moving into the home Redeemer worked on) is extremely appreciative of all your work! What a great way to make a difference right here at home…Thank You! Good News Published for the people of Church of the Redeemer Thank you to the many parishioners who contribute to the contents of this publication. Editor: Kate Chittum We welcome your input. Please submit articles to GoodNews@churchredeemer.org and ministry schedules to Schedules@churchredeemer.org by the 10th of each month. You may also drop either off at the Parish Office or mail to: Good News Church of the Redeemer 8275 Meadowbridge Road Mechanicsville, VA 23116 GOOD NEWS www.churchredeemer.org Page 3 MEET THE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL Over the next 12 months, the Good News will be featuring a member of the Redeemer Parish Pastoral Council. This is a welcome opportunity to introduce our newest members and to reintroduce current council members to the parish. Council members will be sharing their faith experience, why they are called to the Catholic Church, and their hopes and visions for our parish. e My name is Jacquie Linklater, and my husband and I have been Redeemer parishioners since moving to Mechanicsville in 1998. Born and raised Catholic in Virginia Beach, I drifted from the Church for several years while attending college but quickly found my way back. Navigating life’s ups and downs is so much easier when you have faith, and living your faith is made easier when you have the support system of your Church. I cannot imagine my life without the Church in it. I sampled several parishes since moving to the Richmond area in 1987, the Cathedral and St. Michael’s among them. Every church has its good points, but none felt instantly like home the way Redeemer does. My husband and I felt welcomed immediately. I was nominated for Parish Council at just the right time. From 20002010 I was a stay-at-home mom with the luxury of setting my own hours. I was able to teach Religious Education here at Redeemer (from pre-school up to second grade where I spent several years) and to volunteer for many other activities that fit my schedule and the schedules of my children. When I returned to the work force in 2010 I was nervous about finding a balance between family and work and I scaled back on my volunteering to almost nothing. Recently, however, I have been looking for new ways to share my time and talents. I’ve been dabbling in various Bible studies and helping out in the nursery from time to time but it hasn’t been fulfilling enough, so when I got my letter informing me of my nomination it seemed as if it were meant to be! At the risk of sounding cliché, I believe the future of our parish really lies in our youth. The fact that so many young people are willing to participate in the Mass as lectors, singers, Eucharistic ministers, etc. tells me that fewer people will be taking a “gap year” away from the Church and will instead continue to spread the Word and share our ministry beyond our walls. When I see the youth surrounding the altar before leaving for a mission trip and when I see the babies and children being baptized in the font, I am comforted that the future of our Church is in good hands. GOOD NEWS www.churchredeemer.org Page 4 Cursillo YOU ARE INVITED to attend a Cursillo Weekend - **But Only If You Want to Rekindle The Light of God Within You** The next women's weekend is coming up, April 28 through May 1. Cursillo is Spanish for "short course". It's a 3 day retreat in Christianity. This retreat sweeps you up and takes you deep into discovering your relationship with Jesus. And unlike other retreats, it gives you the tools to continue your journey when it's over. The Cursillo movement was founded by a man named Eduardo Bonnin in Spain in 1944. Bonnin was inspired by reading a speech given by Pope Pius XII when he urged people to "seek new ways to let everyone know the love of God." Four years later, the first Cursillo weekend came about. This apostolic movement of the Roman Catholic Church spread from Spain to Colombia, and then in 1957 it came to the United States. So you maybe have heard of Cursillo?- because it's been around now for more than 70 years. But you may not know very much because the details are not readily shared so each participant can go into the weekend with no particular expectations and an open heart. If you are in search of a closer relationship with the Lord....If you want to learn how to better live out your life of faith....if you're searching for your purpose in life, then I urge you to sign up for a Cursillo weekend. If you need more information before you decide, please contact Cindy Lockemy at 307-1867 or Lisa Rider at 382-0702 and we'd be happy to talk to you. Rite of Election We become Christians by a process of conversion - “turning around” - and through the Church, Christ has provided us with Sacraments to help us celebrate this conversion process. The Sacraments of Initiation are an ongoing invitation into this lifelong process of conversion. Five Catechumens were welcomed into the “Elect” on February 21, 2016 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart by Bishop DiLorenzo. He declared the catechumens to be Elect, which means worthy for admission to the Easter Sacraments at the Easter Vigil, and signed the Book of the Elect. Sacraments are not private events. They affect the whole Church. Conversion takes place in community and implies initiation into the community, the Body of Christ. The rites of the Church call for these sacraments to take place within the community of the faithful. As members of that community we are each responsible for being an inviting community and living lives that others will want to imitate. Please take a minute and welcome our Elect when you see them and remember to keep them in your prayers as they continue their journeys of conversion. Our catechumens, now the Elect, from left to right next to Loraine Tracy, are Mark, Tabitha, Chase, Kennedy and Michael. GOOD NEWS www.churchredeemer.org Page 5 Join us for our St. Patrick’s lunch with corned beef and cabbage, etc. on Tuesday, March 8. Sign up on the table outside the office. The Prime Timer Ministry will be taking off the month of April and will be back on Tuesday, May 10. Watch the bulletin for more information. The Knights of Columbus will be hosting their final Lenten Fish Fry on Friday March 4 at 5:30pm. Cost is $5 per person/$20 per family. All parishioners are invited. Fried and baked fish will be available; there will also be French fries, macaroni and cheese and cornbread. Come early with your family and enjoy a terrific meal. We would like to extended a warm welcome to all of the new families that have recently joined our church. Diane Ingram Brenda Marroquin Meaghan Moran Donna Patterson GOOD NEWS www.churchredeemer.org Page 6 COMING TO THE TABLE The second meeting for parents and children preparing for First Eucharist will be Saturday, March 5, from 4:00 - 5:15 PM. Please contact Terry Colville if you know in advance you will be attending the parent make-up session. The parish is asked to hold these children and their families in prayer during this special time of preparation. Our final “Family Spirit Nights” of the year will be held during our regularly scheduled elementary sessions on April 4th. Parents are asked to join their children as we celebrate the great season of Easter! DOWN ON THE FARM! Our farmhands are starting to prepare for our 2016 Vacation Bible School, Barnyard Roundup, where we’ll discover that Jesus knows us by name, rounds us up, and brings us home! Our down-on-the-farm adventure will be held Monday through Friday, June 27 – July 1, from 9:00 to noon, and will provide fun, memorable Bible learning activities for rising K - 5th graders. (A preschool program is offered for children of volunteers.) Barn-Raising Storytelling, Bales of Fun Games, Bountiful Blessings Snacks, the Green Pastures Bible Challenge and Udderly Cool Crafts will help us know that Jesus is with us always and forever – no matter what! Our round-up needs you! We are still recruiting guides for the climb - adult co-leaders for the snack station and decorations. All materials are provided, all planning is done with a partner, and all fun is experienced together! If you are interested in volunteering or would like additional information, please contact Michelle Carr, michelle.carr01@yahoo.com. An information and planning meeting will be held for all leaders later this month. GOOD NEWS www.churchredeemer.org Page 7 Of Dandelion Seeds and Mercy Article 3 of 9 for the Jubilee Year of Mercy I think mercy is a “dandelion seed” kind of word. By that, I mean defining it is just like when you have a dandelion flower gone to seed and you try and hold on to those seeds. When you open your hand, confident they are there and see nothing, it’s both baffling and challenging. You know what you had, and yet you hold nothing when you open your hand. Just try and define “mercy” to someone! You know what it is, you have it! And yet, you don’t. That’s the purpose of this third article: to help us come to a more concrete understanding of the word mercy as it is used in our Roman Catholic tradition. In doing so, my hope is that you will begin to see some of the ways to celebrate this Year of Mercy, because you will see some of its depth. What is mercy? Pope Francis describes it as love put into action; a sustained application of the Gospel according to Jesus. Love put into action is God’s way of being: creation in all its varied glory; humanity as the very image of God; the Hebrew people, God’s chosen revelation of Himself; and, Jesus God’s final loving gift to us. These are all ways God continues to speak God’s loving presence into our world. “Love put into action” is God’s nature. It is “the way” Jesus told us following Him offers. It is who we, the sons and daughters of God through the waters of baptism, are called to be. So how might individuals, parishes and entire dioceses become even more explicit living examples of love, put into action? This is a gift and a challenge that emerges for this coming Year of Mercy. What is mercy? Mercy is the ready willingness to help another in time of need, especially through pardon and reconciliation. Jesus revealed this aspect of mercy to us countless times during his public ministry. Remember, for example, the stories of the woman caught in adultery, of the Good Samaritan , of the Samaritan woman at the well, and of the crippled man at the edge of the pool at Bethesda? Each time, Jesus offered concrete help in their time of need. Each time, the outcasts were restored. Dignity, a place within the community, health and hope were given back to each person. Each time, Jesus made it possible for all to see, then and now, that God’s mercy is vast, unmerited and generous. Pardon and reconciliation are two of mercy’s expressions. This invites individuals, parishes and the entire diocese to go out, as Pope Francis commands, to go out and encounter those who are in need…and bring them God’s very good news. That Good News is this: restoration, healing and hope are found among Jesus’ followers! He is Risen and offering it here and now. Good news, indeed! What is mercy? Mercy is an act of the will that becomes a habit of the heart. Mercy is a lens through which every situation is seen. That is why we need the Holy Spirit. To be merciful as an act of the will means we need knowledge, understanding, wisdom, right judgment and courage to give us the will to act with God’s chesed . Chesed is God’s covenanted loving-kindness. It is God’s nature, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, it can become our nature as well. It takes discipline and work, it takes a community who shares this call. It takes persistence and repentance. It takes practice. How might a parish enable those entrusted to its pastoral care develop this disposition toward life? What does it take to be able to choose, as a worldview, mercy? What is mercy? Mercy is the compassionate care for others that leads to taking another’s burdens on as our own. Jesus illustrates it for His followers when he tells the story of the Good Samaritan. A hated enemy takes on the burden of the injured man. He does so willingly, at great potential personal cost, and at an abiding economic cost as well. You see, mercy means doing more than the obvious; it means seeing to another’s freedom from the burden from this point forward, even at great cost to ourselves. Jesus himself is the premiere example of this kind of compassionate care. He took our burdens of sinfulness, waywardness, disobedience and pride, and carried them all the way to Calvary. There, put to death by people who blatantly exhibited these characteristics, his free acceptance of his death, restores us to wholeness. Jesus’ mercy restores us to our created image and frees us from all that would keep us bound. Like the Good Samaritan who secured the injured man’s freedom from indentured servitude by paying ahead for his care and guaranteeing more if needed, Jesus frees us and keeps us free from sin. Chesed, God’s covenanted loving-kindness, was illustrated clearly by Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. Why? That we might come to accept the freedom that is ours as God’s children. Pope Francis is calling on the great Hebrew tradition of Jubilee to give us a context within which to imagine how to inaugurate a new era of mercy. The Church is a visible sign of Christ to the world. The Pope is asking each of us, individually and collectively, to consider how the merciful Lord is being made visible, tangible, REAL in a world fraught with vengeance, power, war, and indifference. We might each ask ourselves how WE are signs of mercy? And every parish might ask itself, do those who encounter the parish find there tangible signs of God’s loving-kindness as promised by Jesus? Look in your hand now! See the dandelion seeds of mercy. Go now, share them! Show them to others! Prepare for the Year of Mercy that all may know what God has shown us through Jesus and the Spirit! This article was prepared by Deborah Stollery, ConSpirita Consulting Network, LLC info@conspirita.com GOOD NEWS www.churchredeemer.org Page 8 Answering God’s Call “The promotion of the practice of stewardship is important for the mission of the Church and for the spiritual well-being of each individual Christian. Everyone benefits from the sacrificial gift one makes of his time, talent and treasure” -His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI The Stewardship Council is hosting a Ministry Fair after each of the masses on the weekend of April 2nd and 3rd. You will be able to learn more about the many ministries supported by the many stewards in our parish. Please consider ways that you can be more fully involved in the life of our parish or consider new opportunities. Review the list of ministries found in the ‘Ministry Guide’, visit the fair and then prayerfully discern what special skills and talents God might be calling you to share. It is through the gifts of time and talent that our parishioners so generously share that we are able to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in our parish and community. Many thanks to all of the faithful and generous stewards in our parish! GOOD NEWS www.churchredeemer.org Page 9 Blessing of the Baskets: Baskets containing a sampling of Easter foods are brought to church to be blessed on Holy Saturday. The basket is traditionally lined with a white linen or lace napkin and decorated with sprigs of box-wood, the typical Easter evergreen. The blessing of the food is a festive occasion. The three-part blessing specifically addresses the various contents of the basket, with special prayers for the meats, eggs, cakes, and breads. The priest then sprinkles the individual baskets with Holy Water. Come celebrate this tradition on Saturday, March 26 at noon in the worship space. Lent/Easter Schedule Morning Prayer—Every weekday morning, 7:00 am, from Feb. 11 to March 25 Day of prayer continues on Wednesdays at noon and 7 pm Knights of Columbus Fish Fry—Friday, March 4 at 5:30 pm Stations of the Cross—Friday, March 4 at 7:00 pm Youth Stations of the Cross—Friday, March 11 at 7:00 pm Parish Reconciliation—Wednesday, March 16 at 7:00 pm Stations of the Cross—Friday, March 18 at 7:00 pm Holy Thursday—March 24 with Liturgy at 7:30 pm Good Friday—March 25 with Liturgy at 7:30 pm Easter Vigil—March 26 at 8:00 pm Easter Sunday—March 27 with Liturgies at 9:00 am and 11:00 am GOOD NEWS www.churchredeemer.org Mass Lectors March 12 5:30 pm 1. Diane Byrnes 2. Terry DelVecchio 1. Judy Cunningham 2. Julia Crowder 1. John Swierczewski 2. Gwen Boggess 1. Christy Evanko 2. Monica Tino 1. Mark Borysewicz 2. Celie Thomas 1. Gwen Boggess 2. Richard Godlewski 1. Volunteers 2. Needed 1. Volunteers 2. Needed 1. Volunteers 2. Needed 1. Canova Peterson 2. Sherrill Hefele 1. Chip Free 2. Vicki Beahm 1. Tim McDermott 2. Frank Porter Ushers Page 10 Cross Bearers Altar Servers Al Kusmin Braden Mast Rick Gillespie* Ray Santucci Robert Kemmler Caleb Kulinowski (y) Chuck Toombs Cameron Bradley Dan Burke* Curran Henry Garret Plummer (y) Kyle Henry (y) Connor McNulty Lorenzo Verdelotti Nancy Ashworth* Rob Ashworth Tom Franco Jacob Franco Jesse Lopez Michael Carr Tim Cook* Michael Stank Nate Reisenweaver (y) Derek Reisenweaver (y) Charlie Burch Ciara Kocik David Jackson* Mike Foley Brandon Cary (y) Emily Jackson (y) Bryan Fraim Bill Michie* Pat Quisenberry David Dehetre Jake Dehetre (y) March 13 8:00 am 10:00 am March 19 5:30 pm March 20 8:00 am 10:00 am Linen Coffee Marie Irmen Mary Frances Hebert Barbara Gerloff Rich Rhoades Frances Pohida Volunteer Needed Kathy Dolan Marshall Amy Swierczewski Nan Payton March 26 8:00 pm Easter Sign up Please Volunteer No coffee Needed March 27 9:00 am 11:00 am April 2 5:30 pm April 3 8:00 am 10:00 am Easter Sign up Please Easter Sign up Please Richard Prezioso* Robert Prezioso Jack Hayek Kay Berlin Volunteer Shirley Husz Needed Volunteer No coffee Needed Dan DelVecchio No coffee Maria Ryan Randy Ferrance* Mike Bonelli David Allen Charles Toombs Dennis Fiore Gabriel Worthington Ed Schmidt* Allan Draper Mary Sue Mclaughlin Reid Eaton (y) Jacob Cooney (y) Dave Worland Jack McGann Carter Berry Marie Irmen Fran Burch Stan Webb GOOD NEWS Mass Mar 12 5:30 pm www.churchredeemer.org Gift Card Sellers Suzy Aunspach* Gladys Seymour Mary Rider Mar 13 Mar 19 Mar 20 8:00 am Money Counters Cheryl Toombs* Jayne Martin Julie Myers Debbie Ward 10:00 am Dave Crowl* Pam Dougherty Mary Covey Robin Carroll 5:30 pm Wanda DelVecchio* Sherrill Hefele Dan DelVecchio Shirley Husz Paula Hill Paula Beecher Lisa Ford Judy Nelson Diane Byrnes Ed Lucas Page 11 Children’s Liturgy Children’s Litturgy 5-7 year olds 8-10-year-olds Jen Puleo Kathy Sweet Brooke Puleo (Y) Ashley Ebert (Y) Lindsay Shea Mason Courter (Y) Christina Robertson Janet East Emily Elliott (H) Emma Crescentini (Y) Kelly Pace Palm Sunday No Children’s Liturgy Palm Sunday No Children’s Liturgy Palm Sunday No Children’s Liturgy Mary Deaner 8:00 am Mary Kemmler* Maureen Uerz Jimmy Bunger Jean Whiteside Cathy Durvin Ursula Gebhardt Angelika Mader Brad Mason Mar 26 Mar 27 10:00 am Nina Henry* Betsy/Mark Staver Nancy Sheliga Josephine Jones 8:00 pm No gift cards sold Easter No Children’s Liturgy 9:00 am No gift cards sold Easter No Children’s Liturgy No gift cards sold Easter No Children’s Liturgy Spring Break No Children’s Liturgy Spring Break No Children’s Liturgy Spring Break No Children’s Liturgy 11:00 am April 2 5:30 pm April 3 8:00 am Barbara Hayek* Sue Heim Cathy Rawls Carol Iacone Amy Kusmin Susan Darling* Cheryl Toombs Judith Layton Stan Pruemer Eileen White LuAnn Orie* 10:00 am Frank DeGaetani Susan Blunt Norma Guenther Dennis Fiore Donald Berberich Rose Marie Berberich GOOD NEWS www.churchredeemer.org Page 12 Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion 5:30 Mar 12/13 Mar 19/20 8:00 10:00 B Prayer Minister B Prayer Minister B Prayer Minister B Judy Saunders B Rosemarie Davis B Susan Hunrath B Wendy Whitaker B Cathy Durvin B Ellen Spain C Frances Pohida C Charles Burch C Ryan Godlewski C John Pohida C Robin Chandler C Nina Henry C Robert Ashworth C Layne Courter C David Jackson C Nancy Ashworth C Mason Courter C Todd Kitten C Gladys Seymour C Rob Courter C Dennis McLaughlin C Duane Taylor C Susan Darling C April McNulty C Margaret Twomey C Theresa Ferrance C Robert McNulty C DEACON C DEACON C DEACON B Prayer Minister B Prayer Minister B Prayer Minister B Tom Deaner B Alex Kulinowski B Dot Chudoba B Terry DelVecchio B Gary Hall B Mark Staver C Patrick Quisenberry C David Hopper C Katelyn Spain C Sally Riddell C Dennis Fiore C Bernie Chudoba C Mary Ashby C Julia Pillis C Janelynn Testerman C Michael Ashby C Donna Proffitt C Christina Colville C Susan Ashby C Christina Robertson C Robert Crawford C Kay Berlin C Gayle Spradlin C Richard Godlewski C Rick Blair C James Spradlin C Ryan Godlewski C Mary Deaner C JoMarie Stank C Nina Henry Mar 26/27 EASTER PLEASE CHECK VOLUNTEER POSTING Apr 2/3 B Prayer Minister B Prayer Minister B Prayer Minister B Karin Latimer B Mike Stank B David Jackson B Patricia Lawlor B Susan Darling B Todd Kitten C Stephen Evanko C Peggy Thinnes C Susan Hunrath C Barbara Gross C Cheryl Toombs C Dennis McLaughlin C Gerald Hefele C Carolyn Brand C April McNulty C Joe Heim C Charles Burch C Robert McNulty C Sue Heim C Robin Chandler C Ellen Spain C Vera Irmen C Layne Courter C Katelyn Spain C Alex Kusmin C Mason Courter C Mark Staver C Amy Kusmin C Rob Courter C Janelynn Testerman GOOD NEWS www.churchredeemer.org Page 13 March Anniversaries 1 2 3 Linwood & Marie Miltz—1989 Jim & Carolyn McCombs—1991 David & Sujatha Kemler—1990 Kevin & Renee Reisenweaver—1994 Cory & Niki Tribble— 2005 Richard & Catherine Brewster—1998 David & Audra Cooper—1996 4 5 Stephen & Dawn Martin—2003 6 7 8 Karl & Susan Wawrzyniak—1982 Greg & Christine McLean—1995 Norman & Sheila Gallagher—1980 Robert & Barbara Flournoy—1964 9 10 11 12 Henry & Michele Donnini—1989 Carlton & Christina Shelton—1988 Michael & JoAnn Bonelli—1977 Toby & Meghan Blatt—2004 Keith Brown & Heather Hallmark— 2007 19 Mark & Kathleen Evans—1986 Kevin & Cynthia Kelly—1986 13 14 15 16 17 18 Gerald & Alana Simpson—1993 Robert & Mary Kemmler—1981 Scott & Melody Deshaies—1997 Tom & Janet Jordan—1985 Patrick & Tommie Faye Curran—1979 Mark & Melissa Thurston—1995 James & Kim Davis—1998 Daniel & Jennifer Neylon—2003 21 22 23 24 Dan & Wanda DelVecchio—1975 Randy & Cindy Lockemy—1989 David & Laura Edwards—1990 Tim & Diane Atkins— 1988 Robert & Shannon Reynolds—2001 Joe & Susan Fisher— 1994 20 Aaron & Jocelyn Aguilar—1999 Ken & Karen Boyd—1986 27 28 29 30 31 David & Suzanne Smith—1998 Robert & Caitlin Trumbore—2008 Andrew & Margaret Davis—1985 Bruce & Janet Albright—1997 Richard & Josephine Morrow— 1958 Thomas & Sheila Franco—1990 Robert & Judith Nelson—1973 25 26 Church of the Redeemer 8275 Meadowbridge Rd Mechanicsville, VA 23116 Non-Profit Organization U.S. postage Paid Mechanicsville, VA 23116 Permit No. 37 Church of the Redeemer Good News www.churchredeemer.org Lenten and Easter Guidelines, 2016 Lent and Easter are times for fasting and abstinence. Fasting is a day in which only one full meal is allowed; abstinence denotes a time in which no meat is consumed. Fasting is to be practiced by all those between 14 and 60 years old; abstinence, by those 14 years of age and older. All the Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence. Good Friday is a day of fast and abstinence. Fasting, almsgiving and prayer are the three traditional disciplines of Lent. Catholics should undertake these practices seriously in a spirit of penance and of preparation for baptism or of the renewal of baptism at Easter.