Lenten season under way at St. George's
From Staff Reportsreligion@newnan.com
St. George Catholic Church has begun this year’s observance of Lent.
“Catholics observe Lent for 40 days, one day at a time. Some fast every day...from something. Some just let it pass by,” said Jim Stagg, a member of the parish.
During Lent, Father Henry Atem has scheduled an additional three hours of Eucharistic Adoration from 6-9 p.m. each weekday. “This is to make adoration available to a wider group of people who cannot come in the morning hours,” Stagg said.
Stations of the Cross will be at three different times every Friday – at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. in English and at 8 p.m. in Spanish.
“This is a devotion often credited to St. Francis of Assisi, but ... even pre-dates the actual celebration of Ash Wednesday, since it can be traced back to the 5th century. It could be traced further back – to the attempt by St. Helena, mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, in the 4th century, to identify the ‘Holy’ places in a destroyed and partially re-built Jerusalem,” Stagg said.
“To welcome people to the evening services, the Knights of Columbus serve good fish and chips each Friday starting at 6 p.m.,” Stagg related. Meals are $5 each.
Lenten Penance Services were held Feb. 19 for St. Mary Magdalen Parish. They are scheduled for March 4 for St. George Parish. They also are “scheduled at six other Catholic parishes in this area during the remainder of February and March,” Stagg said.
“These services are communal celebrations of the Catholic Sacrament of Penance (Confession) and provides an opportunity for a large group of individuals to be shriven of their sins,” Stagg said.
Stagg said personal obligations for Catholics during Lent include abstinence from meat every Friday, as well as fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
