Lenten Guidelines

Below are the guidelines of Lenten observance for the faithful in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. (For key dates, please visit the Holy Days page of the Archdiocesan website.)

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and lasts until Holy Thursday, April 2, 2026.

Ash Wednesday is a universal day of fasting and abstinence in the Catholic Church.

According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the imposition of ashes on foreheads “symbolizes our dependence upon God's mercy and forgiveness.”

In preparation for these 40 days that will lead us to renew and embrace our baptismal commitment, we offer these ideas for prayer, fasting and almsgiving during Lent. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence.

Roman Catholics must fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Additionally, they must abstain from meat on all Fridays during Lent.

As outlined by the U.S. Bishops' conference, “fasting is obligatory for all who have completed their 18th year and have not yet reached their 60th year. Fasting allows a person to eat one full meal. Two smaller meals may be taken, not to equal one full meal. Abstinence (from meat) is obligatory for all who have reached their 14th year.

The rule of abstinence from meat is binding upon Catholics aged 14 and onwards. This does not apply to dairy products, eggs, or condiments and shortening made from animal fat. Fish and all cold-blooded animals may be eaten (e.g., frogs, clams, turtles, etc.).

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.

Throughout the Archdiocese, parishes gather as a community in abstinence from meat for weekly fish fries during Lent. Many are held before or after Friday services praying the Stations of the Cross.

Through our works of prayer, fasting, and abstinence, let us heed the prophet Joel's exhortation to "return to God with our whole heart (2:12)."

Lent is a penitential season and as such religious practices such as daily Mass, reception of the Sacrament of Penance, the devotion of the Stations of the Cross, works of charity and justice, and acts of self-denial are highly encouraged.

Like millions of Catholics across the world, the Pope himself receives ashes on Ash Wednesday.

"The celebration of the Paschal Triduum of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection, the culmination of the liturgical year, calls us yearly to undertake a journey of preparation, in the knowledge that our being conformed to Christ is a priceless gift of God’s mercy."

Pope Francis, 2019 Message for Lent