LENT IS A PROPITIOUS TIME in which the Church invites Christians to be more intensely aware of Christ's redeeming work and to live our baptism more profoundly … With its duration of forty days, Lent tries to recall some of the events that marked the life and history of ancient Israel, presenting to us again its paradigmatic value … The Lenten season is an invitation to relive with Jesus the forty days he spent in the desert, praying and fasting, before undertaking his public mission … This is the authentic and central program of the Lenten Season: to listen to the Word of truth, to live, speak, and do the truth, to reject lies that poison humanity and are the door to all evils. It is urgent, therefore, during these forty days, to listen again to the Gospel, the Lord's Word, Word of truth, so hat in every Christian, in each one of us, the awareness is reinforced of the truth that has been given, that he has given us, to live it and be his witnesses. Lent stimulates us to let the Word of God penetrate our life and in this way to know the fundamental truth: who we are, where we come from, where we must go, what path we must take in life. Thus, the Lenten season offers us an ascetic and liturgical journey that, helping us to open our eyes in face of our weakness, makes us open our hearts to the merciful love of Christ. (Benedictus, Page 66, Day by Day with Pope Benedict XVI)

THE PURPOSE OF LENT is to keep alive in our consciousness and our life the fact that being a Christian can only take the form of becoming a Christian ever new; that it is not an event but a process requiring constant practice. If individuals are to become Christians they need the strength to overcome; they need the power to stand fast against the natural tendency to let themselves be carried along. Only where such effort is expended is there life; where the effort ceases life too ceases. The human person is the being which does not become itself automatically. Nor does it do so simply by letting itself be carried along and surrendering to the natural gravitational pull of a kind of vegetative life. It becomes itself always and only by struggling against the tendency simply to vegetate and by dint of a discipline that is able to rise above the pressures of routine and liberate the self from the compulsions of utilitarian goals and instincts. Our world is so full of what immediately impinges on our senses that we are in danger of seeing only details and losing sight of the whole. It takes effort to see beyond what is right in front of us and to free ourselves from the tyranny of what directly presses upon us. (Benedictus, Page 61, Day by Day with Pope Benedict XVI).

In Lent, the Alleluia is omitted at Mass and the Hours, even in celebrations of solemnities and feasts. Catholics are obliged to receive holy communion at least once a year, in Australia and New Zealand between Ash Wednesday and Trinity Sunday. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. The law of fasting binds those who have completed their eighteenth year, until the beginning of their sixtieth year; the law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. (CCL 97, 1251-52)

  pdf Message of His Holiness Pope Francis For Lent 2021
“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem” (Mt 20:18)
Lent: a Time for Renewing Faith, Hope and Love (119 KB)

2021 Parish Lent: a Time for Renewing Faith, Hope and Love

Things you can do to make Lent more meaningful and experience conversion – getting to know Jesus (the Good Shepherd) more intimately, (to be a good shepherd).

• BE MORE: PROJECT COMPASSION 2021
  
  
• LOOK TO JESUS: A new Lent and Easter resource of 52 Daily Reflections for Lent and Easter for individuals and groups is available from the Priest’s Sacristy for $5 a copy; ten copies available. It is designed to nourish and nurture prayer each day during Lent and into the first week of Easter.
  
  
• SIMPLY JESUS: LENT 2021: During the season of Lent, we are called to focus purely and simply on Jesus Christ, the epitome of self-giving love. We are invited — individually and as a Church — to travel to the heart of our faith, reflecting on our lives and our relationships, renewing our faith in Jesus and consciously recommitting ourselves to the path of discipleship. This time of simplicity and inward reflection strengthens and equips us for our journey outward to spread the love and Good News of Jesus within our families, parishes and the wider community. To help and inspire you and your parishes on this Lenten journey, we have produced a range of new Lenten resources, including a beautiful and reflective multimedia Way of the Cross based on the Gospel of Mark and the work of Melbourne sculptor Leopoldine Mimovich. Lucy Davison reflects on how the themes of Lent — and the centrality of Jesus — might come into sharper focus in the wake of last year’s lockdown, and Father Nicholas Pearce tells us about the exciting new Discipleship Internship program being launched this year by Proclaim
  
  
• Sabbatical Journey: The Diary of His Final Year Please visit this website:http://wp.henrinouwen.org/

• 2021 WORD OF GOD SUNDAY ~ A CALL TO CATHOLICS BY BRISBANE’S ARCHBISHOP COLERIDGE

• ST JOSEPH 150TH ANNIVERSARY WORKER AND FAMILY MAN © St Columbans Mission Society
  

• Holy Hour Wednesday evenings from 7pm – 8pm in our Parish Church
  

• pdf Ten ways to Celebrate Lent at Home
  
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• pdf Ten ways to Appreciate the value of Fasting (119 KB)
  
  
• pdf Ten ways to Hold a Lenten Group (127 KB)
  
  
• pdf Ten ways to Create a Sacred Site (147 KB)
  
  
• Sacrament of Reconciliation by appointment
  
  
• Being inspired during this time to doing something more … random acts of kindness
  
  
• Parish Website Daily Readings ...

Lenten Prayer for Transformation

Loving Father,

I invite you into my life today
and make myself available to you.
Help me to become the-best-version-of-myself
by seeking your will and becoming a living example
of your love in the world.
Open my heart to the areas of my life that need to change
in order for me to carry out the mission
and experience the joy you have imagined for my life.
Inspire me to live the Catholic faith
in ways that are dynamic and engaging.
Show me how to best get involved in the life of my parish.
Make our community hungry for best practices
and continuous learning.
Give me courage when I am afraid,
hope when I am discouraged,
and clarity in times of decision.
Teach me to enjoy uncertainty and lead your Church
to become all you imagined it would be
for the people of our times.

Amen.

Lenten Prayer for Ash Wednesday

God of goodness and mercy,

Hear my prayer as I begin this Lenten journey with you. Let me be honest with myself as I look into my heart and soul, noticing the times I turn away from you. Guide me as I humbly seek to repent and return to your love.

May humility guide my efforts to be reconciled with you and live forever in your abundant grace.

Transform me this Lent, heavenly Father. Give me the strength to commit myself to grow closer to you each day.

Amen.

Lenten Prayer for Sundays during Lent

Heavenly Father,

As I enter another week of my Lenten journey, guide me to the path that leads to you. Fill my heart with gratitude, patience, strength, and peace as I strive to become the-best-version-of-myself, honestly admitting my shortcomings and sins.

As I renew my resolve each day to become a better person, let me hear your voice in the deepest reaches of my heart. Give me rest in you.

Help me to accept others, showing them your great love instead of casting judgment.

Stay with me through the busy days this week and remind me that when I need comfort, solitude, wisdom, or guidance, I can always turn to you.

Help me develop discipline and generosity through fasting and almsgiving, and come closer to you through prayer this Lent.

In your name I pray,
Amen.

Prayers for Lent During Holy Week

Lenten Prayer for Holy Thursday

Jesus, in these last few days leading up to Easter, as I recall your passion and death, let me remember that, above all, I am called to feed your sheep. You have given me a model of how to live; may I strive to be all that you created me for, spreading the love of God and the truth of our Catholic faith wherever I am able. You are the way, the truth, and the life. Amen.

Lenten Prayer for Good Friday

Jesus, no one knows change better than you. You died on the cross, and three days later you rose from the dead. Forty days later you ascended into heaven and left the world transformed for the rest of time. Help me to transform my soul, to die to sin and death and be reborn in your love and eternal life. Amen.

Lenten Prayer for Holy Saturday

Jesus, you are courage incarnate. As you hung on the cross for my sins and the sins of the world, you showed me that all things are possible. You knew that life did not end on the cross. It was only the beginning of a new and glorious eternal life. Amen.

Lenten Prayer for Easter

Almighty Father, I thank you for the gift of your son, Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead and redeemed humankind. Fill us with the fire of the Holy Spirit, that we may be faithful disciples and enthusiastic witnesses of our Catholic faith. Alleluia, Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed.