Ash Monday and Lenten guidelines for 2021

ASH MONDAY

The Divine Liturgy and the Ritual of the Distribution of Ashes will be celebrated on:

Monday February 15th
10:00 am: Chapel  (Independence)
7:00 pm: St. Maron Church (Downtown)

The Most Reverend Bishop A. Elias Zaidan has issued the following Lenten guidelines for 2021:

Parish priests will be disturbing Ashes on Ash Monday during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. The distribution of ashes will follow the normal practice, with Q-tips being used to mark the forehead of each parishioner.  The Q-tip will be discarded after each use.

All Maronites who are physically capable are to abstain from meat on Ash Monday (February 15) and all Fridays of Lent. 

• Ash Monday and the Great Friday of the Crucifixion are also days of fasting. Fasting in the Maronite Church involves eating and drinking nothing at all (except water and medicine) from midnight until noon. The rest of the day normal meals can be taken, but without meat. All Maronites who are physically capable should fast on these two days.