[Land of the Irish]

"I hereby commute the obligation to observe fast and abstinence on Ash Wednesday," Mahony said in a statement released recently.

[Land of the Irish]

Mahoney ping

[NZerFromHK]

From the Catholic Church of Hong Kong:

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http://sundayex.catholic.org.hk/chancery/ci050109.html

...

III. ASH WEDNESDAY (February 9)

As this year Ash Wednesday (February 9) falls on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the faithful are dispensed from fast and abstinence on that day in accordance with our diocesan regulation. However, the faithful are required to choose for themselves some other suitable forms of penance or perform some works of charity, in keeping with the penitential spirit of the season of Lent.
Taking into account the Lunar New Year festivities, the rite of the giving of ashes can be postponed to the 16th (Wednesday - during Mass) or the 18th of February (Friday - during Way of the Cross), or to another suitable date. In accordance with liturgical tradition, this rite should not be held on a Sunday.
The rite of election or enrolment of names for baptism is to be held, as usual, on the First Sunday of Lent (February 13).
The liturgical texts of the booklet “Lunar New Year Liturgy” (in Chinese), published by the Diocesan Liturgy Commission, may be adopted for weekday and Sunday Masses during the Lunar New Year period.

Given at the Chancery Office,
3 January 2005.



Rev. Lawrence LEE
Chancellor

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[Mark in the Old South]

What is next, a dispensation from the fast for the next Wicker chicken sacrifice?

[A.A. Cunningham]

and to refrain from eating meat every Friday until Easter.

No, Catholics are expected to abstain from eating meat on every Friday of the year, not just the Fridays during Lent.

Can. 1250 The days and times of penance for the universal Church are each Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.

Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

[JesseHousman]

How about a good old fashioned clown mass?