We are within a week of the Spring Fair and still need many volunteers to help. There are many spots to fill for all. Please come join your Parish family to make our 140th annual fair a success!
Please sign up in the vestibule or online here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0948AEAE28A7F58-stambrose
Please remember to place the date of the 2023 Spring Fair on your calendar, which is Sunday, March 26, 2023, from NOON to 4:00 PM.
We are looking forward to seeing everybody there!
We are looking for volunteers to help, please sign up in the vestibule of the church or online here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0948AEAE28A7F58-stambrose
Divine Mercy Sunday is April 16th
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Adoration and Chaplet of Divine Mercy
A Message about Divine Mercy Sunday
Dear St. Ambrose Family,
It was in the 1930’s that our Lord Jesus appeared to Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun, and told her to spread the message of his mercy throughout the world. The message of Divine Mercy is not new, for God has always revealed himself as a merciful God. However, Saint Faustina was given the special role to draw attention to the existing revelation that God is merciful, and that Jesus Christ is our merciful Savior. The message of Divine Mercy is simple: that through Jesus’ merciful love he came to save humanity from the consequences of sin and death.
There are many elements of the Divine Mercy message, but the core of it is:
1. The Divine Mercy Image, which says, “Jesus, I Trust in You;”
2. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy;
3. The Novena to Divine Mercy, which starts on Good Friday;
4. The Hour of Great Mercy; and
5. The Feast of Divine Mercy (Divine Mercy Sunday).
Jesus asks that the following be observed on Divine Mercy Sunday:
1. Celebrate the Feast on the Sunday after Easter;
2. Sincerely repent of all our sins;
3. Place our complete TRUST in Jesus;
4. Go to Confession, preferably before that Sunday; *
5. Receive Holy Communion on the day of the Feast;
6. Venerate the Image of The Divine Mercy;**
7. Be Merciful to others, through our actions, words, and prayers on their behalf.
*For an Indulgence, the Catholic Church permits one to go to Confession several days before or several days after the solemn feast day.
**To venerate a sacred image means to perform some act or make some gesture of deep religious respect toward it because of the person whom it represents.
Divine Mercy Sunday is truly an important part of the Easter Season. During Easter we celebrate that our Lord Jesus has conquered all sin and death through his resurrection. It is no coincidence that Divine Mercy Sunday is the first Sunday after Easter. As far back as St. Augustine in the late 300’s A.D., it has been a liturgical tradition that the eighth day of a celebration is the highest day. St. Augustine called the eight days of Easter, referring to the Octave, “days of mercy and pardon.” Liturgically, these days constitute a single day or a single celebration. St. Augustine calls this Octave day of Easter “the summary of the days of mercy.” Therefore, it is very appropriate that Divine Mercy Sunday be a main part of our Easter celebration, where mercy is freely given by God and received joyfully by humanity.
May we all receive the mercy of Jesus on this Divine Mercy Sunday and extend his mercy to others.
In the Merciful Jesus,
Fr. Steven
St. Ambrose Catholic Church will be celebrating it’s 150th anniversary in 2025!
We are currently planning the event for February 15th, 2025.
More details will follow.
Nancy DuPont
Lent began on February 22nd, Ash Wednesday. Mass will be celebrated at 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation, but it is an important day to start your Lenten Season. It is a day of fasting and abstinence.
Fasting and Abstinence during Lent is on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are permitted one full meal and two lesser meals per day (which together should not equal one full meal), with no eating between meals. All other Fridays are days of abstinence, which means to abstain from eating meat. Catholics who are 14 years or older should abstain from meat entirely. Soups and gravies made from meat are permitted.
Lenten Activities
Daily Mass: Monday, Tuesday, Friday at 8:00 a.m., Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. and Thursday at 9:00 a.m. Make this Lent a Retreat. Allow the Lord to draw you closer to His Heart each day through Word and Sacrament.
Stations of the Cross: Friday’s at 12:00 noon in the Garden and on Good Friday only an additional 7:00 p.m. in the Church. Come make a spiritual pilgrimage of prayer each Friday and meditate upon the final hours of our Lord’s life as he carried the cross for our sins.
Eucharistic Adoration: A time of prayer and contemplation in the Presence of Our Eucharistic Lord. Adoration of the Holy Eucharist will be every Wednesday from 5:00 to 5:50 p.m. during lent.
Penance service: Sunday March 12th at 4:00 p.m. The Lord always showers us with His grace. During Holy Week and Easter the Lord’s graces flow in abundance. Prepare yourself to fruitfully receive those graces during the celebration of the Lord’s passion, death, and resurrection by purging yourself of your sins at our Lenten penance service. Several priests will be available to hear your confession and grant absolution.
Operation Rice Bowl: As part of our community’s observance of Lent, we ask all families to participate in Catholic Relief Services’ Rice Bowl, a program of prayer, fasting, learning, and giving. Please be sure to take home a Rice Bowl packet and follow this simple yet powerful Lenten practice. Visit orb.crs.org for more information. Please return your Rice Bowl packets on Palm Sunday.
5:00 – 5:50 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration – Every Wednesday during Lent
11:00 a.m. Chrism Mass at the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine
5:00 – 5:30 p.m. Confessions
5:00 – 5:50 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration
6:00 p.m. Mass
(No Morning Mass)
8:00 a.m. Morning Prayers
7:00 p.m. Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Adoration following Mass until 10:00 p.m.
(No Morning Mass)
8:00 a.m. Morning Prayers
12:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross (in the Garden of the Cross)
3:00 p.m. Passion of the Lord (with Holy Eucharist)
7:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross (in the Church)
(No Confessions on Holy Saturday)
8:00 a.m. Morning Prayers
8:30 p.m. The Easter Vigil Mass
9:00 a.m. Mass of the Resurrection
10:15 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt
11:00 a.m. Mass of the Resurrection
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Adoration and Chaplet of Divine Mercy
