'Lent calls us back to — the basics'
Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Published January 24, 2006
Detroit – Lent, a special time to focus on Christ, begins on Ash Wednesday, which is March 1 this year.
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Fr. Lawrence Ventline, left, and Fr. Francis Skalski of St. HyacinthParish, Detroit, burn last year's blessed palms into ashes for markingforeheads for Ash Wednesday. | Parish leaders are preparing to mark Lent by planning events. For example, St. Angela Parish in Roseville is hosting Souper Wednesdays, a time for the parish to come together for a small meal and gather as a community for a "reflective, simple and prayerful" time, said pastor Fr. Doug Bignall.
Lent is a time to return to life's simple things and to remember that God is No. 1, he said. "That's what Lent calls us back to – the basics," he said.
Also at St. Angela, the parish's youth will portray the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday.
Fr. Francis Skalski, pastor of St. Hyacinth Parish in Detroit, said Lent is a time to put Christ front and center.
"We focus our attention on Christ, on His passion and His words, and what He did here on Earth," he said.
As Catholics, we observe a 40-day Lenten period to mark Jesus' 40 days in the desert, as described in the Gospels.
Lent guidelines
- Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence from meat.
- Those 18-59 years old must fast.
- If someone is of ill health, another form of self-denial is encouraged.
- On fast days, one full meal and liquids are allowed.
- Two smaller meals may be eaten, but they should not equal a full meal.
- Other Fridays of Lent and Holy Saturday are days of abstinence from meat.
- Those 14 years old and older must abstain from meat.
| Lent is also a time for preparing those looking to fully join the Church as well as preparing Catholics to celebrate the paschal mystery, said Sr. Georgette Zalewska, RSM, the archdiocese's Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults director. The whole community prays, does penance, fasts and gives alms together.
"The prayer, penance, fasting and almsgiving prescribed by the Church for Lent is meant to assist the faithful in this assessment of their lives and prepare them to renew their baptismal vows," she said.
Fr. Bignall said Lent is a time to take time out for the Lord and ask God what is important. "It's the season in which God calls us to measure not only our minds but our hearts," he said.
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