Ash Wednesday (March 2nd) marks the start of the Catholic Church’s preparations for Easter known as Lent.
As we prepare for a deeper understanding of the spiritual significance of Christ’s death and resurrection, we can identify small parallels in His life and ours: the struggles, the realities, the messy-stressy things that distract us from peace. Jesus was not exempt from anxieties, stresses or suffering. It’s a part of being human. Likewise, for us now, God is with us when we’re anxious, stressed and suffering.
Here at STC we normally acknowledge Ash Wednesday with a prayer liturgy as a whole school faith community. Archbishop Paul Martin has asked us to follow COVID protocols and so we will not have a school-based liturgy. Instead, I encourage you all to attend a local Catholic Church next week.
My local Church is actually right beside STC on Main South Road: Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church is the centre of Christchurch West Parish…. yip, it’s the one that looks like a Winter Olympics ski jump!! The website for the Church is www.christchurchwest.org.nz
The Church is offering the following times for Ash Wednesday Masses:
I hope this helps you and your family prepare for Lent.
Yours in Christ,
Stephen Kennedy, Director of Religious Studies
