“Lent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy.” (Pope Francis) When we undertake our Lenten penances, let us remember that we are doing so in imitation of Christ. He has shown us how to live, how to fulfil the instructions that God has been offering since the call of Abraham. If we forget this, there is a danger that Lent can be for us a moment of temptation: the temptation to think that if we work hard enough, if we pray hard enough, if we make ourselves miserable enough, we can earn ourselves a place in heaven. Imitating Christ means letting go of pride, letting go of a sense of our own achievements. Instead, everything has been achieved for us by Jesus, and in particular by his death and resurrection. In a few weeks we will be celebrating that paschal mystery on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The purpose of Lent is to prepare us for that celebration by reminding us that through this mystery he has opened for us the gate of paradise. Letting go of pride and rejoicing to share in the path of life opened up for us by Jesus is the real meaning of our Lenten observances. (Source: The Living Word)
“Lent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy.” (Pope Francis) We begin our Lenten journey with the receiving of ashes on Ash Wednesday. Fr Antony Kadavil writes, “The cross of ashes means that we are making a commitment – that we are undertaking Lent as a season of prayer and penitence, of dying to ourselves. It also describes our human condition: it says that we are broken and need repair; that we are sinners and need redemption. Most importantly, it tells us that, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are to carry our crosses.” The Catholic Church requires able members from age 18 to 59 to fast on Ash Wednesday. The obligation to abstain from meat applies to those 14 and older. Lenten Reflection Join Fr Jaybee and Deacon Nathan on Thursday’s at 5.45pm in the Ned Kenny Centre to reflect on the coming Sunday Gospel. The Diocesan Program, “Renewed for Mission” will be used. The sessions also provide an opportunity for fellowship, as a light supper will be served with a cuppa after the meeting. (NB The program can be downloaded from our website for families to use in their own home.) Stations of the Cross are a powerful prayer experience. Throughout Lent come and meditate on 14 specific events, from Christ’s last day on Earth as a man, on Fridays at 7pm in St Joseph’s. Project Compassion: Lent is a time when we support the work of Caritas Australia in a special way through Project Compassion. Caritas Australia helps to empower some of our most marginal sisters and brothers; it embraces some demanding situations because it says yes to our neighbours. The theme for Project Compassion is For All Future Generations. This year, that theme asks us to think about the great yes that Mary said when the angel told her that she was to become the mother of Jesus. She freely accepted a unique place in the history of the human family. The great prayer she shared wither cousin Elizabeth, says ‘all generations will call me blessed.’ Her ‘yes’ is For All Future Generations. Hopefully, ours can be the same. (Source: Caritas Australia) Project Compassion envelopes and boxes can be found in the foyer of the Church.
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