LENTEN REGULATIONS In observance of Lent 2026, the following obligations are to be observed by all Catholics of the Archdiocese of Newark who enjoy the blessings of good health: The days of both Fast and Abstinence are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the “paschal fast” to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily His Resurrection. The other Fridays of Lent are days of Abstinence.

Fasting in the Catholic tradition means to limit oneself to one (1) full meal and two (2) smaller meals, which, if added together, would not exceed the main meal in quantity.  The obligation of Fast applies to Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59. 

On a day of Abstinence, no meat may be eaten. The obligation of Abstinence applies to Catholics who have reached the age of 14.  The obligation to observe the laws of Fast and Abstinence “substantially,” or as a whole, is a serious obligation. 

The Fridays of the year, outside of Lent, are designated as days of penance, but each individual may substitute for the traditional abstinence from meat some other practice of voluntary self-denial as penance.  The time for fulfilling the Paschal Precept (Easter Duty*) extends from the First Sunday of Lent, February 22, to The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, May 31.