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Friday, March 17, 2023
A Message from Bishop Doherty
In the season of Lent, we seek to draw closer to our Lord Jesus. We do so through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We also practice abstinence from eating meat on all Fridays of Lent, as well as on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday. The law of abstinence binds all those who have attained the age of fourteen (CIC §1252).
Modeling our lives after missionary saints is also central to our Lenten journey. This year, the Memorial of Saint Patrick takes place on March 17 and coincides with a Lenten Friday. It is a feast day of great importance to the faithful and possesses significant cultural and ethnic importance as well. Therefore, I hereby dispense Catholics in the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana from the obligations of Lenten fast and abstinence for Friday, March 17, 2023 (CIC §85).
Anyone taking advantage of this dispensation from rules that normally apply to them is asked to pick another day in Lent to observe the penitential practices. I also ask that as we enjoy a festive March 17th meal with family and friends, we be mindful of our brothers and sisters in the world who do not have enough to eat. Please consider a donation to one of the many food pantries in the diocese as another fitting way to commemorate the Memorial of Saint Patrick.
We do penance in imitation of Jesus’ fast of 40 days in the desert, eager to draw nearer to him in love.
In Christ’s peace,
Bishop Timothy Doherty