ANNOUNCEMENTS OF CATHOLIC CHURCH IN AZERBAIJAN – MARCH 14, 2021 – FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR MARCH 14, 2021, FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
Announcements of the Apostolic Prefecture
Solemnity of Saint Joseph – Year of Saint Joseph
On Friday, March 19, the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of St. Joseph. We invite all faithfull to pay special attention to this feast, since, at the invitation of Pope Francis, the year 2021 is specially dedicated to Saint Joseph. During the week, you can join the novena prayer of this feast, the texts of which are published on our website.
Year of Amoris laetitia
We invite faithfull to pay attention to another important initiative in the Catholic Church. Pope Francis has proclaimed a special year dedicated to the family – the Year of Amoris laetitia, which will be inaugurated on March 19, 2021, on the day of the liturgical feast of Saint Joseph. This special year will conclude with the 10th World Meeting of Families in Rome in June 2022. We will regularly inform you about specific opportunities for participation in this initiative.
Activity of the Catholic Church and the possibility to visit the church during quarantine time
The current pandemic situation does not allow us to publicly gather for liturgical celebrations.
However, churches will be open during this period. We invite you to contact any of our priests about the possibility to visit the church (either in Khatai or in Ganjlik) for personal prayer, a dialogue with a priest, and the receiving the sacraments.
We remind you that during the sacrament of confession, as well as during every visit to the church, it is necessary to strictly observe the rules of quarantine (social distance, wearing masks and hands disinfection).
For all questions about the visit of the church, receiving sacraments, Holy Masses and other celebrations, services and needs, you can contact our priests.
We continue online broadcasts of Holy Masses in Russian on Sundays at 11:00 on our YouTube channel.
Dispense from the duty of personal participation at Sunday Mass and holy days of obligation
We remind you that at the present time, due to the continuing ban on public services, the ordinary of the Apostolic Prefecture of the Catholic Church in Azerbaijan temporarily exempts faithful Catholics from the obligation of personal participation in Mass on Sunday and holy days of obligation. This exemption is valid until further notice.
Liturgical calendar for the next week
17 March, Wednesday, Optional Memorial of Saint Patrick, bishop
18 March, Thursday, Optional Memorial of Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop and doctor of the Church
19 March, Friday, Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
21 March, Sunday, Fifth Sunday of Lent