This Week in Faith

Lent is a way for Catholics and many Christians to remind themselves of the value of repentance. The austerity of the Lenten season is seen as similar to how people in the Old Testament fasted and repented in sackcloth and ashes. It reminds us to turn away from wrongdoing and return to God. The pillars of Lent are prayer, service and fasting.

The ashes received last week are a symbol of our will to be converted and to do penance when faced with the forgiveness offered by Jesus. Did you know that Catholics in New Zealand are required to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday?