Weekend Wisdom - March 10th, 2024

Lent – A Favorite Liturgical Season

Of all the liturgical seasons, Lent is by far my favorite. Some might wonder why it isn’t Easter, the most important of all the liturgical seasons since it celebrates Christ’s victory over death and allows me the promise of eternal life. While I acknowledge Easter is the most important season for me, it is the educator in me that LOVES Lent. During this time, I look forward to the various experiences and activities, provided by catechists, that quietly prepare our student’s hearts for the joy and gratitude that they will experience with the celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection at Easter.

The activities our Discipleship Formation catechists present ask students to pay special attention to God in quiet and personal ways. Formation students are reminded that we put Jesus first when we show love to God and others. They are reminded how much He sacrificed so they might share eternal life with Him and our Father. The Lenten experiences provided help aspire our students to be more like Jesus.

One experience is the Lenten calendar which encourages students to give up bad habits and selfishness to allow love and forgiveness to grow in their hearts. Another experience, the CRS Rice Bowl, allows students to understand that they have the power to make the world a better place for those less fortunate. Burying the Alleluia is a third activity that allows our students to personalize the experience of saying goodbye to the phrase “praise the Lord” during the solemn time of Lent, and then allowing it to re-emerge joyously at Easter, when the resurrection is proclaimed. A fourth experience, Stations of the Cross, is a Lenten prayer that allows students to participate in a guided refection that helps them connect with Jesus’ sacrifice.

Lent is filled with carefully prepared activities and experiences and as much careful fun as catechists can put into classes, all to make sure that student hearts are fully prepared for Jesus’ Resurrection.

With that responsibility, why wouldn’t any Discipleship Formation Director love Lent?

Jean VanderHeiden, Director of Discipleship Formation