Reflection
LENT
Lent is 40 days of preparation for Easter. Christians are called to deepen their spiritual lives through prayer, fasting and almsgiving before the celebrations of Easter. It is a time to renew and restore relationships with God, ourselves and others. We can take more time to read the bible, pray, attend Mass and go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We can give up things so that we can be more mindful of how God is working in our lives.
This year Ash Wednesday was February 18th. This day was marked at the College by a prayer service in homerooms. During this service, ashes were placed on the foreheads of students and staff in the sign of the cross with these words: “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel”. Ashes symbolize both our own sinfulness, our mortality and the potential for new and exciting growth in each and every one of us, young and old. They are a sign that as we start this season of Lent, we identify ourselves as followers of Jesus and start a journey with him towards Easter.
In his Lenten address, Pope Leo emphasized the importance of giving space “through listening,” since “the willingness to listen is the first way we demonstrate our desire to enter into relationship with someone.”
Referring to fasting, the Pope explained that “it is a concrete way to prepare ourselves to receive the word of God,” so it is important to “keep our hunger and thirst for justice alive... Thus, it teaches us to pray and act responsibly towards our neighbour.”
Finally, during this Lent, the Holy Father invites us to disarm “our language, avoiding harsh words and rash judgement, refraining from slander.”
“Let us strive to measure our words and cultivate kindness and respect in our families, among our friends, at work, on social media, in political debates, in the media and in Christian communities. In this way, words of hatred will give way to words of hope and peace,” he encouraged.
See below for Pope Leo’s full Lenten address
https://www.humandevelopment.va/en/news/2026/cuaresma-2026-mensaje-de-papa-leon-xiv.html
Holy Family of Nazareth, be our inspiration and our guide.
Jesus of Nazareth, help us to grow in Faith, Wisdom and Knowledge
Mr Peter Stewart
Director of Faith and Mission