Lent 2022

What is Lent?

The word "Lent" came from the Old English lencten meaning "spring" (the season).

Lent is a period of about six weeks leading up to Easter. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and, in the Catholic Church, ends at the ninth hour of Maundy Thursday.

It is supposed to be forty days like the forty days Jesus spent in the desert reflecting, praying and preparing for His own death and resurrection. It is a time when Christians try to be quieter and more thoughtful, as they follow Jesus' example and prepare themselves for Easter.

Lent is a time of repentance. Christians are expected to pray more as they reflect on their own lives and relationships with God.

It is a time to address and sort those things in ourselves and our lives that take us away from God’s love and care. Lent is also a time of hope; an opportunity to refocus and renew and strengthen our personal bonds with God – putting behind us all of those things that disrupt our relationships with Him.

During Lent, Christians give money to the needy, to charities and other good causes. They may choose to do something extra for someone else and give up some of the things they might otherwise do for pleasure.

The period of Lent ends at Easter, which is a time of great celebration as Christians recall the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made to save us from our sins; first by suffering and dying on a cross and then by his rising from the dead on the third day. Before He died Jesus forgave the sinner crucified alongside Him. Jesus showed us that He loves us all the same and died for us all, and, most importantly, that it is never too late to turn to God.

Our SJF Lenten Journey

We will embark on our Lenten journey together as a school community. Our assemblies and liturgies will support us through this journey, and we will build in additional time for prayer and reflection as each class will have three Lenten class liturgies each week, details of which will be shared in the next newsletter.

Our Lenten Prayer: ‘The Confiteor’

I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done, 
and in what I have failed to do;

through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;

therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.