Wednesday, 14 February 2024
ASH WEDNESDAY
Lent begins
14 February 2024
Masses
9.15am | Taupō
12noon | Tūrangi
LENTEN REGULATIONS: FASTING & ABSTINENCE FROM MEAT
You may have heard the words “Fasting” and “Abstinence” used when talking about Lent.
“Fasting” is the word used when the amount of food eaten is limited.
“Abstinence” is when you completely give something up, like meat, for a set period of time. Both "fasting" and "abstinence" play a role during Lent.
Why do Catholics fast during Lent?
Fasting, along with prayer and helping the poor, is one of the three spiritual disciplines of Lent. These work as a three-fold conversion practice as we prepare for the joys of the Easter season. Fasting adds a serious edge to your prayer life. It is a prayer practice that involves denying yourself something in order to increase your spiritual awareness, strengthen a commitment, or petition God for something you or another person really needs.
Fasting is also about detachment - separating yourself from something that you have become overly attached to. It’s a way of reclaiming your spiritual strength and regaining some balance in your life. Practising some denial of our wants and needs in small ways can help us grow in self-discipline and the ability to put off momentary comfort for a larger, more important goal.
Fasting should not be misused to gain praise or sympathy, to manipulate, or to harmfully affect the body. Done correctly, it can be a spiritual practice that can take your prayer to a new and different level!
LENTEN PRACTICES
Corporal Acts of Mercy
Serving Christ in our Neighbour
To feed the hungry.
To give water to the thirsty.
To clothe the naked.
To shelter the homeless.
To visit the sick.
To visit the imprisoned, or ransom the captive.
To bury the dead.
Christ has no body on earth but ours, no hands, but ours, no feet, but ours. Ours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ looks out upon the world. Ours are the feet with which He goes about doing good. Ours are the hands with which He blesses His people .
St Teresa of Avila
DIVINE MERCY
Fridays & Sundays during Lent 3pm | Taupō
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Fridays during Lent | 6.45pm | Taupō
Booklet will be printed and available each Friday.
16 Feb: Filipino community
23 Feb: Tokelau community
1 Mar: Indian community
8 Mar: Pākeha community
15 Mar: Māori community
22 Mar: School community
WOMEN’S GROUP
PIETÀ LENTEN PROGRAMME
Fridays during Lent | Starts 16 February 2024, 7.30pm |
Taupō
LENTEN PILGRIMAGE
Saturday, 17 February 2024 8am – 1pm
Tyburn Monastery
Transport leaves St Patrick’s Church at 8am sharp.
Please bring something for a shared lunch.
Depart Tyburn at 1pm.
Arrive in Taupō at 2pm.
