LENT 2021

Lent will begin on Wednesday  17th February.   As we are unable to  attend our normal Lenten Masses we will be doing  services a bit  different this year.

ASH WEDNESDAY   –  Blessed Ashes will be in separate envelopes and available for collection in both St Patrick’s & St Joseph’s churches  after the 10 am Mass.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS   –  On Friday evenings  instead of the Rosary,  we will have the  Stations of the Cross at 7.30pm.

LECTIO DIVINA FOR LENT  –   beginning on  Thursday 18th February from 7.30pm until 8.30pm on ZOOM.   Please leave your name and email with the Parish Office and a link will be sent on to you for the Zoom meeting. 

TROCAIRE BOXES   –  are available in the Church and the  Parish Office, please take  one home with you

What do Christians do during Lent?

These days, Christians around the world observe Lent in many ways. Many from more orthodox and traditional denominations will still observe the fast strictly,  beginning with the wearing of ashes on Ash Wednesday and abstinence of meat, fish, eggs and fats until Easter Sunday.

Others will choose to give up just one item for Lent, more commonly a ‘luxury’ such as chocolate, take-aways, meat or alcohol. It is also becoming increasingly common for people to give up other things in order to refocus their faith during this time; such as watching TV, going to the gym, even social media.

Many Christians also use Lent to study their Bibles and pray more intensively, making use of the many  devotional books and courses now available.

And, of course, more and more Christians are turning to the 40 acts challenge as a way of doing Lent differently; this idea encourages you to do something generous  during Lent, using simple daily reflections and acts of generosity as a way of putting others first during preparations for Easter.

Sundays during Lent are very important to Christians around the world. Where the Monday to Saturday of each of the six weeks are concerned with fasting and   abstinence, the Sunday is a celebration symbolic of Christ’s resurrection. Instead of fasting, Christians hold feasts in remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice. The fourth and sixth Sundays are particularly important – the fourth because it is Mother’s Day and the sixth because it’s Palm Sunday.