LAFAYETTE, La (KLFY) – This Friday will be like no other for Catholics during Lent season.

A decree signed off by the Diocese of Lafayette Bishop, J. Douglas Deshotel, grants Roman Catholics the option of eating any meat products this Friday, a decision that would normally go against the nature of the season.

“Fridays of Lent, throughout the year, we are called to take that as a sacred day and offer some type of penance, but during the season of Lent we are also called to do abstinence and we as a universal church throughout the world, we abstain from eating meat,” said Father Chester Arceneaux with St. John’s Cathedral.

Father Arceneaux says this gives Catholics the opportunity to celebrate the Irish heritage of St. Patrick’s Day.

“That doesn’t mean that we are not obligated to enter into charity work, so other sacrificial work is seen,” explained Father Arceneaux. “Instead of just saying that we can celebrate that feast and do other forms of fasting and abstinence.”

Father Arceneaux says its been a couple of years since they’ve had a Friday to be excused during Lent season.

“For the feast of St. Joseph a couple years ago, which is a solemnity in the church, it is allowed to celebrate that day where you can eat meat,” said Father Arceneaux.

The decree is in order for this Friday only.