Next week marks the beginning of the season of Lent. The 2020 theme for Lent is “Renewed by the Spirit"– taken from Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation, Gaudete et Exultate – Rejoice and Exult. To begin our Lenten journey as a community who prays together, we will be gathering as a school and parish in our Church for Ash Wednesday mass at 930am. Parents, Carers and friends of St Monica’s are most welcome to join us.

Ash Wednesday begins the Church liturgical season of Lent and is a time of great reflection and preparation. We are called to reflect upon how we listen to God’s word and how we are applying His message to our lives. Our Scripture focus this year is the Parable of the Sower, which also asks us to reflect upon how ready our hearts are when we receive the word of God – What kind of soil are you?

With this question in mind, we are encouraged to take the 40 days and 40 nights of Lent to reassess how we are receiving and living the word of God. We often make Lenten promises. These promises need to inspire our hearts as we prepare for new life that is given to us through Jesus death and resurrection at Easter.

I encourage families to take a moment between now at next Wednesday to discuss Lenten promises that could inspire hearts. Our children often hear the words prayer, fasting and giving to the poor. But what does this actually mean for them? This year, as my children are now in Year 3 and Year 4, we will talk about what we can do as a family that will help us to hear God’s message more clearly. We are going to make a time to pray together as a family, offering up our hearts to God; we are going to make a commitment to ‘switch off’ from technology and use that time to do something together and this year and giving to the poor is about seeing the need to help those in our community who need it the most.

As your family prepares for this season of Lent, please don’t hesitate to contact me at school for support, resources or a chat!

Looking forward to praying and reflecting with you at our Ash Wednesday mass next week,