Pope's Message for Lent 2018

Click here to read Pope Francis' message for Lent 2018 - in English and French. 

Pope Francis’ 2018 Lenten Message, Because of the increase of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold”  (Mt 24:12), reminds us that: “Lent summons us, and enables us, to come back to the Lord wholeheartedly and in every aspect of our life.”  In the letter Pope Francis examines, “how it happens that charity can turn cold within us”.  In this Lenten Message, Pope Francis calls us to:

• Examine our lives and see “how it happens that charity can turn cold within us” and to discern “What are the signs that indicate that our love is beginning to cool?”
• Accept what the Church offers us in the Lenten season: the soothing remedy of prayer, almsgiving and fasting;
• Join with men and women of good will who are open to hearing God’s voice and together raise our plea to God, in fasting, and in offering whatever you can to our brothers and sisters in need!
• Take up the Lenten journey with enthusiasm, sustained by almsgiving, fasting and prayer.
• Celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation: (Reminder: our diocesan Day of Confessions is March 21)

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 (Feb. 14, 2018)

For the first time since 1945, the season of Lent will begin on Feb. 14, the Memorial Day of St. Valentine of Rome.  During Lent, Catholics are obliged to fast (only one full meal) and practice abstinence (no meat) on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (March 30).  Abstinence is required on the other Lenten Fridays.  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.

Ash Wednesday is a day of penance, fasting and abstinence for Catholics.  For the Church, the Feast of Saint Valentine is an optional memorial day marking the life of the 3rd-century Roman saint.  In this rare instance when both events are on the same date, Ash Wednesday must take precedence.  Therefore, some families and Catholic schools are choosing to celebrate "Valentine's" a day early this year.  (Even though children under 16 are not required to fast, flashy cards and chocolate treats are not in keeping with the season of Lent.)

This year, Easter Sunday will be on April 1, 2018.

Resources for Lent

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

• About our annual Day of Confessions across the Diocese of London
• 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

Share Lent 2018

Day of Confessions (March 21, 2018)

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