Ash Wednesday Information

Wednesday, February 26

9:30 AM  Mass @ Heritage Care Center, Iowa Falls

6:30 PM  Mass @ St. Mary, Eldora

6:30 PM  Liturgy of the  Word & Distribution of Ashes @ St. Mark, Iowa Falls

6:30 PM  Mass @ St. Patrick, Hampton

7:00 PM  Mass @ St. Mary, Ackley


Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.

There is a good reflection written by a priest about why we fast, which you can read in its entirety by clicking here.