Lent began today with our Year 12 Special Eucharistic Ministers distributing the Ashes to students and staff in Homeroom.

The marking of the forehead with ashes is a public sign reminding us to live the way Jesus wants. It is the beginning of our preparation for Easter when Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. Lent is a special time when we stop and think about how we can play our part in God’s hope for a world that is fair, just and peaceful.

Through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we take the focus from ourselves and instead focus on our relationship with God and how serving others draws us closer to God. We also think about giving all of ourselves to be God’s love and mercy in our world, as we look to give Lent 100% in all that we do as people of hope.

The Distribution of Ashes

The ashes are made by burning the blessed palms that were distributed the previous year on Palm Sunday. The ashes are blessed and sprinkled with holy water.

Ash Wednesday is a day of fast and abstinence

Catholics who are over the age of 18 and under the age of 60 are required to fast, which means that they can eat only one complete meal and two smaller ones during the day, with no food in between. Catholics who are over the age of 14 are required to refrain from eating any meat, or any food made with meat, on Ash Wednesday.