Lent 2024

What is Lent?

Lent is a very special time in the Christian calendar - a time of preparation for Easter, the greatest of all Christian feasts. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which is during the school holiday, this year. During an Ash Wednesday Mass or service ashes, made from the previous year’s burnt palms, are used to gently mark our foreheads as a reminder that we are loved equally by God and that our lives are special, but short - and so should be lived selflessly.

Lent can also be a very blessed time for those who make the most of the opportunities provided to reflect on their lives, struggles and those things that keep them from God. It is an invitation to resolve to be better.

Lent is a time of hope; a chance to repent and start again, by making the changes we need to make so that we can benefit from having a full relationship with Our Father. It is a time to show love and respect to others and especially those who are poor and marginalised in our city and world.

It is a time when we are challenged to use our gifts, abilities and talents to do more to help others practically, offering prayers and making sacrifices, for example, by fasting or giving up certain things that we enjoy. Information about what we will be doing to support Bishop Ralph’s 2024 Lenten Good Shepherd Appeal will be shared shortly.

A reminder that the appeal supports the vital work of small and important charities that do so much good in Sheffield.

As Christians, we believe that Easter recalls the incredible sacrifice that Jesus made for us when he was crucified and died for everyone’s sins, before rising again, three days later, in order to destroy those sins and set us all free. Lent is a time when we are called to pray, fast, give and hope.

Lent Class Reflections

During Lent our Class Chaplains will support staff with the organisation of simple daily Lenten class reflections. These start on Wednesday 21^st February 2024 and run until Friday 22^nd March 2024. We invite parents/carers to book one reflection, initially, in classes where their children are pupils.

Places are limited so if you wish to join more reflections please call on the day to see if there are spaces. Please arrive by 3.05pm, thank you.

SJF Passion Play 2024

The English word “passion” is comes from the Latin word passio, which means suffering. The expression, ‘passion of Christ’ is therefore used to describe the pain and suffering that Jesus Christ endured, for our sins, during the last days of his life. We mark this, here, each year with a simple passion play performed by the children in Years 3-5.

This year it takes place during Holy Week, on Tuesday 26^th March 2024, starting at 2.00pm in Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. It will be followed by refreshments in the school hall. All are welcome.  

Our lady of Lourdes Parish News

For information about parish and Diocesan life including; the times of Masses, services and confession; information about sacramental preparation; and what is planned for Lent and Easter please click this link to our parish website.