Join Archbishop Hebda in a Special Day of Fasting and Abstinence

"The spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) presents a challenge for everyone, including us Catholics, but it also offers an opportunity. Lent calls us to more fervent prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The current medical situation invites us especially to direct our spiritual exercises to benefit the sick and those caring for them, including the Church’s ministers. As God’s providence is allowing this trial during the sacred time of Lent, I am asking all the faithful to increase our prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  We know the prayer of faith can move mountains.

First, as was done in Rome, I am asking you to join me in a special day of fasting, abstinence, and prayer invoking God’s help in these challenging days for our Archdiocese, our country and the world. This day will occur next Wednesday, March 18, 2020, between the Feast of St. Patrick (March 17) and the Solemnity of St. Joseph (March 19). On that day, I invite Catholics who are ordinarily bound to observe fast and abstinence on Ash Wednesday to prayerfully make this same sacrifice next Wednesday.

Second, I encourage the faithful to engage in additional prayer. I highly recommend praying a daily Rosary as a family or individually, but other forms of prayer and devotion are also suitable. From biblical times until the present day, history confirms that when the faithful unite in prayer and fasting, powerful things happen."

- Archbishop Hebda
  March 12, 2020