Ash Wednesday
Distribution of Ashes in Time of Pandemic
February Daily Mass Schedule
Lenten Fast + Abstinence
Private Confessions by Appointment
Cross of Life
Lenten Traditions Not Happening in 2021
During Lent, Catholics are asked to devote themselves to seeking the Lord in prayer and reading Scripture, to service by giving alms and to sacrifice self-control through fasting. Many know of the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, but believers are also called to practice self-discipline and fast in other ways throughout the season.
Following are the modified 2021 St. Thomas the Apostle Parish Lenten services/activities/reminders, due to ongoing Diocesan pandemic protocols.
Ash Wednesday
February 17
Mass, Distribution of Holy Eucharist and Ashes
Lent 2021 begins Wednesday. While not a holy day of obligation, Fr. John Gonzales will offer a video Ash Wednesday Mass in the Chapel. It will be available to view by 7 AM Wednesday.
2021 in-person Ash Wednesday Masses at St. Thomas the Apostle will be:
8:00 AM
10:00 AM
5:00 PM
Holy Eucharist and ashes* will be distributed in the Parish courtyard after each Mass.
Holy Eucharist and ashes* for those who view Mass technologically will be distributed in the Parish courtyard during these times:
NOON - 12:30 PM
3:00 - 3:30 PM
*Distribution of Ashes in Time of Pandemic
(as decreed by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments)
The Priest will say the prayer for blessing the ashes. He will sprinkle the ashes with holy water, without saying anything. Then he will address all present and ONLY ONCE say the formula as it appears in the Roman Missal, applying it to all in general, reminding them to "Repent and believe in the Gospel" or "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return."
The priest will then cleanse his hands, put on a face mask and distribute the ashes. Ashes will be applied using an individual (one-time) Q-tip cotton swab on the head of each person without saying anything.
February Daily Mass Schedule
Following daily Masses will be celebrated in the Church:
Tuesday, February 16 8 AM*
Thursday, February 18 8 AM
Tuesday, February 23 8 AM
Wednesday, February 24 8 AM
Thursday, February 25 8 AM
*newly added
Lenten Fast + Abstinence
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.
For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal.
The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 and older.
Private Confessions by Appointment
Through February 28 eMail request to Msgr. John Lyons at sta5150@aol.com, Fr. John Gonzales at jgonzales@diocesetucson.org or Fr. Callistus Iyorember at ciyorember@diocesetucson.org.
Beginning March 1 eMail request to Fr. Pat Crino at FatherCrino@diocesetucson.org or Fr. Callistus Iyorember at ciyorember@diocesetucson.org.
Cross of Life
The St. Thomas the Apostle Life Teen Group traditionally sponsors its Cross of Life program in support of Reachout Women's Center, a non-profit pregnancy counseling center dedicated to helping pregnant women and new mothers in need.
The 2021 process - like everything else - looks just a bit different:
Parishioners are invited to purchase and return any of the following suggested items and place them in the 'Reachout' boxes located in the Narthex no later than March 1:
The 2021 process - like everything else - looks just a bit different:
Parishioners are invited to purchase and return any of the following suggested items and place them in the 'Reachout' boxes located in the Narthex no later than March 1:
- Diapers: size(s) newborn to 6
- Baby hygiene products (including wipes)
- Formula
- Infant clothing: newborn to 24-months (winter/summer)
- Toddler clothing 2T - 5T (winter/summer)
- Toys: newborn to 3 yrs and board books
There will be small printed paper squares in the Narthex (not traditional crosses) available for taking as a reminder.
Financial donations will also be gratefully accepted. Make checks out to
Reachout Women's Center and mail them to RWC at 2648 N Campbell Ave.,
Tucson, AZ 85719.
For additional info, call the parish office or RWC at 520-321-4300.
Financial donations will also be gratefully accepted. Make checks out to
Reachout Women's Center and mail them to RWC at 2648 N Campbell Ave.,
Tucson, AZ 85719.
For additional info, call the parish office or RWC at 520-321-4300.
Lenten Traditions Not Happening in 2021
- 40 Days/40 Items campaign, benefiting St. Vincent dePaul
- Friday evening Lenten Savory Soup + Supper, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus
- Lenten Missions previously offered by Fr. Ken Wolfe and Greg Adolph.