Despite feeling that Christmas was only a few short months ago, this week, Catholics around the Diocese and the world will begin one of the most solemn periods in the Church calendar, in Lent.
Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving and provides Catholics the opportunity to pause, reflect and journey alongside Christ on His way to the Cross for 40 days, mirroring the time Christ spent being tempted by the devil in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-15, Luke 4:1-13).
People often say they are ‘giving something up’ during Lent, but this season can also be a time to start something new, whether it be a new prayer schedule, going to Mass more frequently, or offering their service to the Church or other volunteer organisations.
Fundraising projects such as Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion encourages Catholics to raise money for their brothers and sisters to alleviate poverty and to improve the lives of thousands for generations to come.
During Lent, the priest or deacon will wear purple vestments, with the exception of the Solemnities of St Patrick and St Joseph in mid-March. Liturgies and celebrations are asked to be paired back and simplistic, to focus on the solemnity of the season, with the Gloria and Alleluia omitted at Mass.
To mark the beginning of Lent, parishes across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains will celebrate Ash Wednesday, where the priest or deacon distributes ashes that are burnt from the palm leaves of the previous year’s Palm Sunday.
During the liturgy, the priest or deacon will draw a cross on the forehead of the person as a symbol of repentance, often saying ‘repent and believe in the Gospel’ or ‘remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return’.
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting, whereby only one normal-sized meal and two ‘snacks’ (or ‘smaller meals’) can be consumed between sunrise and sunset. The requirement of fasting binds those who have completed their 18th year until the beginning of their 60th year, pending medical conditions and restrictions.
The requirement of abstaining from consuming meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and on Fridays during Lent is for those aged 14 and over. This can be substituted with another form of penance, either in prayer, fasting or almsgiving.
Parishes across the Diocese will be offering Ash Wednesday liturgies during the morning and evening throughout 14 February. To find your closest Mass, please visit parracatholic.org/find-a-mass
