March 9 is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Season of Lent.

ABSTINENCE: All Catholics who have reached their 14th 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.
 

Our observance of Lent begins this year on March 9, Ash Wednesday, a day of fast and abstinence for Catholics. At Mass on Ash Wednesday, the imposition of ashes replicates an ancient penitential practice and symbolizes our dependence upon God's mercy and forgiveness.

During Lent, the baptized are called to renew their baptismal commitment as others prepare to be baptized through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, a period of learning and discernment for individuals who have declared their desire to become Catholics.

Now that priests and deacons have attended workshops on the Roman Missal, Third Edition, phase two of the education process began March 1 with the first of 21 workshops for parish leaders.

The workshops are for ministers of the Word, ministers of Communion, ministers of music, Parish Liturgy Committee members, sacristans, religious, religious educators, campus ministers and other parish leaders who will assist with the catechesis and implementation of the Roman Missal, Third Edition in their parishes, and any other interested people. The list of upcoming workshops is below. Workshops run from 7 to 9 p.m.

The cleansing power of baptism, conversion and a renewal of the faith – these are the focus of this year’s Lenten message issued by the Pope’s charity office Cor Unum. The message was presented at a press conference in the Vatican Tuesday. The message draws from the quote from Colossians “You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him.” Through the Sacrament of Baptism, it reads, “man dies to sin,” and “is made a sharer in the new life of the risen Christ.”

“By immersing ourselves into the death and resurrection of Christ through the sacrament of Baptism, we are moved to free our hearts every day from the burden of material things, from a self-centered relationship with the ‘world’ that impoverishes us and prevents us from being available and open to God and our neighbor.”

New York Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan will testify at a joint legislative budget hearing on elementary and secondary education Feb. 15 at the Legislative Office Building at the state Capitol complex in Albany. Archbishop Dolan is expected to be called to testify sometime in the early afternoon, depending on the length of the testimony of those who speak before him.

The Archbishop will testify about the crisis facing the state’s Catholic schools, which educate some 200,000 children. The actions and inaction of elected officials have played a critical role in driving up tuition, further exacerbating that crisis.

The diocesan observance of the 38th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion will be held on Saturday, Jan. 22, at 4:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Pompeii Parish, 158 Laverack Ave., Lancaster.

As part of the Mass, the annual Pro-Vita Awards will be presented. These awards are intended to recognize people who have labored tirelessly for the pro-life cause and to give them strength, encouragement, and support.
 

Karen Green, the principal of St. Joseph School in Batavia, has nothing but high praise for John and Margaret Volpe. “They are a constant presence in school and parish life,” she said. Both Mr. and Mrs. Volpe extend themselves to be a part of multiple school activities.”

This year, the husband and wife team of teachers will be awarded the “Sister Lucille Socciarelli-Father John Sturm Making a Difference Award” at the 2011 Making a Difference Dinner on January 27 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel, Buffalo. The award was established by Buffalo native and NBC newsman, the late Tim Russert, as a way of thanking Sister Lucille and Father Sturm for the difference they made in his life. It is given to one Catholic school teacher in the diocese at the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo’s Making a Difference Dinner. This is the first time two teachers will be recipients.
 

A few months ago, a group of neighbors representing some 40 families in the Port-au-Prince community of Delmas 62 banded together and knocked on the door of Catholic Relief Services' office in Delmas 81 to ask for help. Displaced from their homes after the earthquake, they were living in a nearby camp and wanted to move back.

"I knew CRS would be able to help us," says Raphael Altide, who emerged as a leader among her neighbors. They took a collection for bus fare to pay for the expedition to the CRS office. "We said, 'If there's anything you can do, please help us'. And they responded."

The Diocese of Buffalo will mark the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday with a special Mass on Monday, Jan. 17, at 10:30 a.m. at SS. Columba and Brigid Church, corner of Eagle and Hickory streets, Buffalo.

Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, bishop of Buffalo, will celebrate Mass and the guest homilist will be Father Lawrence Lucas from Harlem, N.Y. Lynda Martin will serve as the guest director of the Mass choir.
 

It's time to get ready for the 2011 Diocesan Youth Convention!