Next week we will celebrate Ash Wednesday, which begins the forty day season of Lent that leads to Easter. On Ash Wednesday, we come together to remind ourselves that we don’t always follow God’s ways and need to ask God for His mercy and forgiveness. Like God’s people in the time of the prophets, we wear ashes to show that we want to turn away from whatever keeps us from God, so that we can live in a closer relationship with God and each other.

Students are encouraged to think of things they could do to become closer to God. e.g. have conversations with God, do good deeds and give to Project Compassion. As adults we understand these acts to be FASTING, PRAYER and ALMSGIVING.

For Catholics, Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstaining from meat. Fasting reminds us that food alone cannot make us happy. We must also be fed with prayer, with God’s Word and by meeting Jesus in the Sacraments, especially Reconciliation and Eucharist. Students under the age of 14 are not required to fast during Lent. The small sacrifices we make during Lent make room in our hearts to welcome the risen Jesus at Easter. Please take some time to talk with your children about the meaning of Lent and discuss together what could be a meaningful sacrifice for this time.

Lenten Thought 

Remember the concept of not only ‘giving up’ during Lent, but ‘taking up.’

What can we ‘take up’ that will improve our lives and the lives of others this Lent?