LENT

The Church year moves into Lent with Ash Wednesday next week. The school will attend Ash Wednesday Mass with the parish at 9:30 next Wednesday 6 March. You are most welcome to join us. As noted, Lent actually begins on Ash Wednesday. On this day we begin our long period of preparation for Easter. We receive ashes on our foreheads in the form of a cross. This signals the beginning of Lent.

Lent is a journey to Easter. It is a period that lasts for forty days. However, there are actually forty six days in Lent. Six of these days are Sundays. Sundays are not included and not counted as part of the Lenten season.

Traditionally, the day before Lent is set aside as a day of preparation. This day is called Shrove Tuesday -aka-  Pancake Day. We also call it Pancake Tuesday. Many Catholic families eat pancakes on this day. Lent is a time when we give things up. We might give up eating chocolate, for example. Pancake Tuesday is the day before we begin the very holy time of fasting and repentance; it is the last chance to spoil ourselves before we begin our Lenten journey. Many years ago people were not allowed to eat food that contained lots of fat, butter and eggs during Lent. Families wanted to use up these foods before Lent began. And so mums would make pancakes for their families to eat.