FATHER JIM'S JOTS - St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time - February 15, 2026

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 15, 2026

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings,

Today is the last Sunday in Ordinary Time before Lent starts.  During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms and we practice self control through fasting.  We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully.  Ash Wednesday Mass will be at 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. in the church and Adoration will follow the 5 p.m. Mass.

Here are three tips to deepen your relationship with God during the 40 days of Lent. 1) Participate in the sacraments.  2) Help those in need around you.  3) Sacrifice something that's hard for you.

There are three main components of Lent:  Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving.  Making a commitment to do more of these things helps deepen our relationship with God.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has an online database of prayers for different causes and occasions:  www.usccb.org/prayers.  If you need a place to help you get started to add more prayer to your life, I encourage you to go to this website and find some different prayers that are meaningful to you. 

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 Catholics, 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.  All Catholics aged 14 and up abstain from consuming meat that is not fish or shellfish as abstinence laws consider that meat comes from animals such as chickens, cows, sheep or pigs --- all of which live on land.

By the usher's table are materials for Scripture readings and reflections and Catholic Relief Rice Bowls.  These materials are free and I encourage all households to take one of each for their family.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim, Pastor

~ Information regarding Lent from usccb.org

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