Bishop Kulick announces dispensation for Catholics in the Diocese of Greensburg from obligation to abstain from meat on St. Patrick’s Day, Friday, March 17, 2023

GREENSBURG – Feb. 24 – Lent is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that began on Ash Wednesday (February 22, 2023) and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday (April 6, 2023). It requires Catholics over the age of 14 to abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent.

Saint Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, falls on a Friday this year. The memory of this missionary apostle to Ireland recalls his preaching of the faith and encouragement to live authentic Christian lives.  Lent does not disappear with the festival celebration of St. Patrick. Rather, in the Diocese of Greensburg, Bishop Larry J. Kulick will permit Roman Catholics to fittingly observe March 17^th this year with another choice of penance rather than to abstain from meat.

During this penitential season, Bishop Kulick will make pastoral visits to five parish communities during Lent to conduct ‘Lenten Evenings of Reflection’. 

Each week, Bishop Kulick will present a different topic, focusing on the major themes proclaimed in the Lenten weekend gospels.  Each of the reflections will begin with prayer followed by the Bishop’s reflection. The theme of each reflection is different. The faithful are invited to attend one, a couple or all.

“As we continue our three-year Eucharistic Revival, I am asking you to make prayer and intentional discipleship an important part of your Lenten discipline,” Bishop Kulick said.

“For those of you who are able to attend one of these Lenten Reflections, I will have a special gift for you – a Lenten pin that is a symbol of our unity as we walk as disciples of Christ during the 40 days of Lent.”

Bishop Kulick’s Lenten Reflection Series Schedule

Tuesday, February 28 – 6PM
Saint Mary, Mother of God Parish, Yatesboro
Topic: “Called to Confidence in Faith: The Temptation of “Now”

Tuesday, March 7 – 6PM
Saint Mary (Nativity) Parish, Uniontown
Topic: “Transfiguration through Listening”

Thursday, March 16 – 6PM
Church of the Resurrection Parish, Clymer Site
Topic: “Companions on the Journey”

Tuesday, March 21 – 6PM
Saint Joseph Parish, Derry
Topic: “Seeing Through Our Blindness: Light in the Darkness”

Wednesday, March 29 – 6PM
Saint Bruno Parish, Greensburg
Topic: “The Compassion of Christ: Rising to New Life”

Each of Bishop Kulick’s Lenten reflections are being recorded and will be posted on the Diocese of Greensburg Facebook page and on the Eucharistic Revival page on DioceseofGreensburg.org.