The Joyous Season of Lent

Throughout this time, the Church highlights the call to conversion for all members of the Church as we accompany our brothers and sisters who are seeking Baptism at Easter. What is your plan for living out these forty days and the rest of your life?

The traditional means suggested by the Church for centuries include prayer, fasting and almsgiving or sharing. In these three, we become more attentive to our relationships with God and with others. This may come as a result of entering more into prayer and devotions, or making some sacrifices such as giving up certain food, drink, or entertainment. These are ways by which we are sure to put God first in our time and our choices.

A second way will lead us to focus on sharing, through such things as doing extra works of charity that help others. These extra works may be spending time with or for others, visiting relatives or friends who are ill or otherwise confined to home, shoveling a neighbour’s walk, or giving of our talents or treasures. Either way, we are imitating Jesus by sharing what we have for the sake of others.

These “tried and true” methods can help shape our lives as Catholic Christians, so that the Lenten experience leads us to growth not only for forty days but for our whole lives.

What are our Lenten Regulations?

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. 
 
“To fast” means eating two small meals and one regular meal, with no food eaten in-between meals.  The law of fasting binds all those who are from 18 to 59 years of age. 
 
“Abstinence” from meat is also required on these two days.  This law applies to all who are 14 years of age and older.  People may be dispensed from these laws depending on particular medical conditions.
 

Pope Francis's Message for Lent 2019:

Please click here to read the Lenten message from Pope Francis, in...
 

French

English

To read the 2015 Time Magazine story called, "Pope Francis' Guide to Lent: What You Should Give Up This Year" please click here.

photo © Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk
 

Ash Wednesday - March 6, 2019

This year, Shrove Tuesday, also known as "Fat Tuesday" or in French "Mardi Gras" was on March 5, 2019.  Traditionally it is our chance to use up rich foods and fats in anticipation of the beginning of Lent the next day.  Ash Wednesday is a holy day of penance, fasting and abstinence for Catholics. 

Lent is a liturgical season during which we prepare ourselves to celebrate the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ by drawing closer to him through good works, repentance, prayer, and fasting.

This year, Easter Sunday will be on April 21, 2019.

Resources for Lent

Click below for the following resources and links all about the season of Lent:

• You are invited to our annual Day of Confessions across the Diocese of London - our motto, new this year, is, "Penance and Prayer in Every Parish!"
• Ideas for Kids and Cathechists: 40 Ideas for 40 Days by Joe Poprocki
• Franciscan Media: For information on Ash Wednesday, fasting, going to confession, etc.
  • Lenten Calendar
  • The Many Customs of Lent
• Living Lent from the Canandian Conference of Catholic Bishops
• Development and Peace - Share Lent Campaign  - Together for Peace
• Development and Peace – Lent: A Time for Sharing  (video)
• Creighton University Online Ministries – Lent Resources – A lot of good resources for Lent
• Lenten Meditations from the Christian Brothers Conference
• Lent in Three Minutes – Busted Halo
• 25 Great Things You Can Do For Lent – Busted Halo
• A Convert’s Guide to Lent – Busted Halo
• Living Lent Daily – Loyola Press
• Daily Scripture Reflections – Pray as You Go
• Leading Up to Lent – Pray as You Go
• "Lent a chance to put your spiritual house in order" newspaper interview with the Archbishop of Ottawa, the Most Rev. Terrance Prendergast

Development and Peace - SHARE LENT 2019

Click here to visit the web page for Share Lent 2019

Development and Peace's Share Lent fundraising campaign is a tradition that goes back to the year the Organization was founded! The campaign focuses primarily on Canada's 6,000 Catholic parishes, 1,500 religious communities and 3,000 Catholic schools.
The purpose of the Share Lent campaign is three-fold:

1. to educate Canadians about international development;

2. to raise funds;

3. to renew the spirit of Lent.

This important annual fundraising activity is a key opportunity to pursue our education work. People are encouraged to make a concrete gesture of solidarity by financially supporting the efforts of our partners in the Global South to build a more just and equitable world.

Day of Confessions: April 10, 2019

Click here to navigate to our Day of Confessions sub-page.

 

Cardinal Collins has prepared a Pastoral Letter for Lent 2019, offering tangible reflections on how we can use this most holy time of year as a period of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. His Eminence also invites us to learn more about the important work of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. 

Click here to read his reflection