This Season of Lent is a time of fasting, almsgiving and consciously making room for God in our busy lives. Whatever image comes to your mind, with the distribution of ashes this Wednesday, we begin another Lenten journey together. Once again there are many opportunities to grasp hold of, during these next 40 days.

FASTING & ABSTINENCE:  Ash Wednesday is one of two days of fasting and abstinence set down by the Church, the other being Good Friday. In current Catholic practice, fasting means having only one full meal a day. Smaller quantities of food may be eaten at two other meals, but no food should be consumed at any other time during the day. The law of fasting applies to those who are 18 to 59 years old. Abstinence is the practice of abstaining from the use of certain kinds of food. Everyone aged 14 years and older is required to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The spirit of the law may invite us to extend the fast to things other than food – tweeting, surfing the net, gambling or gossiping. The minimum fasting requirements make most sense when they are combined with prayer and almsgiving. The Catholic practice of fasting and almsgiving aims at leading us to interior conversion. We fast in order to share our time and our treasure with an attitude of love towards God and others.

DAILY MASS: Each day, we have daily Mass opportunities for you to incorporate into your daily Lenten routine. Why not join us?

PARISH MINI MISSION:  It is important to make time to reflect on our lives and the direction life is taking us. To help us this year we welcome Catholic evangelist and Benedictine Oblate, Jo Hayes. who will lead our Parish Mini Mission on Monday 19, Tuesday 20, Wednesday 21 February. Because the Mini Mission is our Parish focus, the only Mass on those three days will be at 4:30pm and the Mini Mission will be from 5.00 to 6.00pm. Don’t let this Lenten opportunity slip by!

LITTLE BLACK BOOKS:  Available at each church are the Little Black Books, which contain short and appropriate daily reflections A tremendous companion throughout the days of Lent! A gold coin donation to cover the cost would be appreciated. The daily reflections start today, so hopefully there are still some Little Black Books around!

DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT:  This Lent, why not mark in your diary the World Day of Prayer, which is a worldwide gathering of Christians. In our Parish Family, the World Day of Prayer will be hosted this year on Friday 1 March Stella Maris Church beginning at 10:30am—all welcome. (Will also be celebrated at Coolum and Buderim).

RECONCILIATION: Forgiveness should be part of everyone’s Lenten journey. It is never easy! Reconciliation is offered every Saturday at Stella Maris Church from 8:30am to 9:30am. Our Communal Rite of Reconciliation is celebrated on Monday of Holy Week – Monday 25 March at 5.00pm, Stella Maris Church.

PROJECT COMPASSION: A practical and life giving aspect of Lent has always been our sacrifices and the ability to financially support, through the Project Compassion Appeal, those who have come off second best. Indeed, Project Compassion is something in which all individuals and families can be involved. Envelopes are available at the entrance to the church.

LENTEN PROGRAM:  This year, the Lenten Program is entitled, “A Resurrected Life”. All those who have been part of the program during previous Lents have found it a valuable part of their journey – if you are interested in joining a group please contact the Parish Office before Ash Wednesday.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS:  Each week during Lent, you are offered an opportunity to walk the Way of the Cross – the Via Crucis – a timely way to contemplate the final journey of Jesus. During Lent: Stella Maris following 9.00am Mass on Friday morning or on Friday evening, 6.00pm at St Catherine’s, Sippy Downs.

Our journey together begins!

Fr Peter