Bishop J. Malone will distributes ashes during Ash Wednesday celebration at St. Joseph Cathedral. (WNYCatholic File)

Bishop Richard J. Malone, bishop of Buffalo, will distribute ashes at the 12:05 p.m. Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo, on Wednesday, February 18, Ash Wednesday.

Church guidelines for Lent include, for all Catholics who have reached their 14th birthday, abstaining totally from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent including Good Friday.  Catholics who are between their 18th and 59th birthdays are also bound to observe the Law of Fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.  This practice involves limiting oneself to a single full meal and avoiding food between meals.  Light sustenance may be taken on two other occasions in the course of the day.

Also, all Catholics who have made their First Communion are bound by the obligation of receiving Communion at least once a year.  This must be done during the Easter season, between February 22 (first Sunday of Lent) and May 31 (Trinity Sunday), unless, for a good reason, it is fulfilled at another time.