Liturgical Calendar

February 2023

• On February 2, 40 days after Christmas, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord is celebrated, because according to the Law of Moses, the woman who gave birth to a man had to purify herself for forty days, after what they should present to the child (Lev 12, 2-6). When Saint Mary and her husband arrived at the temple with Jesus, Simeon took the child in his arms and said that he was the light that enlightens the nations (Lk 2, 32).
  
• That is why this feast commemorates the entry of Light into the temple. This commemoration is done by giving prominence to the candles in the liturgy.
  
• That day the mass begins in the atrium or in another place other than the church. There the faithful gather with extinguished candles in their hands. The priest arrives at that place dressed in a chasuble or with a cope. When he arrives, the candles are lit while singing: “Behold, our Lord will come with power, to enlighten the eyes of his servants, alleluia."
  
• The priest then greets the people as usual, makes an announcement, and blesses the candles with a formula found in the Roman Missal. After saying those words, he sprinkles the candles with holy water, saying nothing. When the sprinkling is finished, the priest receives his own candle and begins the procession to the church.
  
• Arriving at the church, the priest venerates the altar, goes to his seat, takes off the cope (if he has used it in the procession), and puts on the chasuble. Then Gloria is sung. When the hymn is finished, he says the collect, and the mass continues as usual.

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• El 2 de febrero, en que se cumplen 40 días de la Navidad, se celebra la fiesta de la Presentación del Señor, pues de acuerdo a la Ley de Moisés, la mujer que daba a luz a un varón debía purificarse por cuarenta días, tras lo que debían presentar al niño (Lev 12, 2-6). Cuando Santa María y su esposo llegaron al templo con Jesús, Simeón tomó en brazos al niño y dijo que era la luz que alumbra las naciones (Lc 2, 32).
  
• Es por ello que en esta fiesta se conmemora la entrada de la Luz en el templo. Esa conmemoración se hace dándole protagonismo a las velas o candelas en la liturgia.
  
• Ese día la misa comienza en el atrio o en otro lugar distinto a la iglesia. Ahí se reúnen los fieles con candelas apagadas en sus manos. El sacerdote llega a ese lugar revestido con casulla o con capa pluvial. Cuando arriba, se encienden las velas mientras se canta: “Nuestro Señor viene con gran poder, para iluminar los ojos de sus siervos. Aleluya.”
  
• Después, el sacerdote saluda al pueblo como de costumbre, hace una monición y bendice las candelas con una fórmula que se encuentra en el misal. Tras decir esas palabras, rocía las candelas con agua bendita, sin decir nada. Acabada la aspersión, el sacerdote recibe su propia candela y comienza la procesión hacia la iglesia.
  
• Al llegar a la iglesia, el sacerdote venera el altar, va a la sede, se quita el pluvial (si es que lo ha usado en la procesión), y se pone la casulla. Después se canta Gloria. Acabado el himno dice la colecta, y la misa prosigue como de costumbre.

• It is customary to celebrate Saint Blaise Feast with a blessing of throats. The blessing may be found in the Book of Blessings, "Order for the Blessing of Throats on the Feast of Saint Blaise", Chapter 51. 

• Readings for the Memorial may also be taken from the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, #707- 712. 
• Anointing within Mass may be included. 

• San Fernando and San Gabriel Regions at 3 PM
• San Pedro and Our Lady of the Angels Regions at 6 PM
• Santa Barbara Region celebrating at Our Lady of the Assumption, Ventura @ 2:00 pm & Mission Santa Inés @ 4:30 pm. For more details, please call the Regional Office. 
• ** Please take note ** In the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Rite of Election and Enrollment of Names is transferred to this Sunday, February 19 due to the Religious Education Congress. 

• A Day of Fasting & Abstinence
• Ritual Masses (i.e., Celebration of Matrimony) are not permitted. 
• Funeral Masses are permitted. 
• No Penitential Rite (I Confess..., Lord, have mercy...) 
• Alleluia is omitted. Use proper Lenten Gospel Acclamation.
• Blessing and Distribution of Ashes takes place after homily.
• Creed is omitted.
• Universal Prayer is said.
• The Mass is proper. 
• Preface III or IV is appropriate for use today.
• Book of Blessings provide instructions for blessing of ashes, Ch. 52. nos. 1656-1678
• Ordinary minister for the blessing of the ashes is a priest or deacon.

March 2023

• San Fernando and San Gabriel Regions at 3 PM
• San Pedro and Our Lady of the Angels Regions at 6 PM
• Santa Barbara Region will celebrate in their respective parishes.

• On this Sunday, the First Scrutiny may be celebrated for the catechumens preparing for the Sacraments of Christian Initiation at the Easter Vigil 
• Please see, RCIA, nos. 150-156.

• Vestments Color: Rose or Violet/Purple
• Altar may be decorated with flowers.
• On this Sunday, the Second Scrutiny may be celebrated for the catechumens preparing for the Sacraments of Christian Initiation at the Easter Vigil. See, RCIA, nos. 164-170.
• Normally March 19 is the Solemnity of St. Joseph, but the 4th Sunday of Lent takes precedence, therefore, this commemoration is transferred to the following day, Monday, March 20. 

• Vestments Color: White
• Gloria is sung or said.
• Creed is recited.
• Order for the Blessing of St. Joseph's Table. See Book of Blessings, nos. 1679-1700.

• Ritual Masses (i.e. Celebration of Matrimony) are not permitted. 
• Funeral Masses are permitted.
• Gloria is said or sung.
• Creed is recited.
• Masses starting at 4:00pm and after are Anticipatory Masses for the 5th Sunday of Lent.  

• The practice of covering crosses and images throughout the church may be observed.
• Crosses are covered until Good Friday, but images remain covered until the beginning of the Easter Vigil
• On this Sunday, the Third Scrutiny may be celebrated in preparation for the Baptism of catechumens for Easter Vigil. See, RCIA, nos. 171-177.

The Glorious Season of Easter

Paschal Candle

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Time of Easter Vigil 

FDLC News & Updates

LITURGY PREPARATION AID FOR THE GREAT NINETY DAYS

• The Rite of Reconciliation of Penitents with Individual Confession and Absolution
• Music suggestions
• Penance suggestions
• A Liturgical Calendar Advisory
• Lectionary readings for Sundays and Solemnities
• Preparation sheets for the Rites during the Period of Purification and Enlightenment
• Preparation sheet for Palm Sunday
• Preparation sheets for the Sacred Paschal Triduum

LENTEN SERIES ON THE EUCHARIST

• Dr. James Starke – St. Mary Seminary of Baltimore and the Diocese of Arlington
• Sr. Joyce Ann Zimmerman, CPPS, PhD - prolific author and director of the Liturgical Institute in Dayton
• Fr. Regis Armstrong, OFM Cap - Professor Emeritus of the Catholic University of America
• Fr. Matthew Ernest – Director of Divine Worship of the Archdiocese of New York and Professor and Director of Liturgy at St. Joseph Seminary (Dunwoodie) in Yonkers, NY.
• Fr. Ajani Gibson – Parish Administrator of St. Peter Claver Parish in New Orleans

Attention all Priests

Forthcoming Order of Penance 

2nd Phase of the Eucharistic Revival

"Year of the Parish Revival"

• Starting Feast of Corpus Christ, Sunday, June 11, 2023
• All parishes are asked to do a Eucharistic Procession
• The second phase will foster Eucharistic devotion at the parish level, strengthening our liturgical life through faithful celebration of the Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, missions, resources, preaching, and organic movements of the Holy Spirit.