This document is a Lent calendar from CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) for 2016. It provides daily reflections, prayers, and actions focused on the theme of clean water and how people around the world lack access to this basic necessity. The calendar encourages readers to "Make a Splash" by fundraising to help CAFOD's work providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education in places like Uganda. Each day's entry gives a short reflection on the theme and suggests an action readers can take to support this cause, such as learning about others' experiences, praying, or organizing a sponsored event.

1. www.cafod.org.uk
Lent calendar 2016
14 Feb
Sunday
13 Feb
Saturday
12 Feb
Friday
11 Feb
Thursday
10 Feb
Wednesday
15 Feb
Monday
21 Feb
Sunday
20 Feb
Saturday
19 Feb
Friday
18 Feb
Thursday
17 Feb
Wednesday
16 Feb
Tuesday
22 Feb
Monday
28 Feb
Sunday
26 Feb
Friday
25 Feb
Thursday
24 Feb
Wednesday
23 Feb
Tuesday
29 Feb
Monday
6 Mar
Sunday
5 Mar
Saturday
4 Mar
Friday
3 Mar
Thursday
2 Mar
Wednesday
1 Mar
Tuesday
7 Mar
Monday
13 Mar
Sunday
12 Mar
Saturday
11 Mar
Friday
10 Mar
Thursday
9 Mar
Wednesday
8 Mar
Tuesday
14 Mar
Monday
20 Mar
Sunday
19 Mar
Saturday
18 Mar
Friday
17 Mar
Thursday
16 Mar
Wednesday
15 Mar
Tuesday
21 Mar
Monday
27 Mar
Sunday
26 Mar
Saturday
25 Mar
Friday
24 Mar
Thursday
23 Mar
Wednesday
22 Mar
Tuesday
27 Feb
Saturday

2. Reflect
• As Lent begins, we remember how Jesus spent
40 days in the desert.
• While Jesus was in the desert he had hardly
any food to eat or water to drink. There are
many people around the world who do not
have clean water to drink, or water to wash
with and keep themselves clean. Throughout
Lent, and in this Year of Mercy, we will
remember our neighbours around the world.
Wednesday 10 February
Ash Wednesday
Click here for our Ash
Wednesday liturgy.


3. Give
• Everyone has the right to clean
water. But not everyone has it.
• Every pound you give this Lent
will be matched by the UK
government.
Thursday 11 February
Click here to find out how
you can Make a Splash!
with CAFOD this Lent, and
make a difference to the
lives of children around the
world.


4. Act
• In this Year of Mercy, we remember that giving drink to
the thirsty is one of the Acts of Mercy.
Check out CAFOD’s blog
every Friday to see how
others around the world
are taking action in the
Year of Mercy.
Friday 12 February
Watch our film to
see how clean
water helps
children like Guti
in Uganda.


5. Give
• Start asking friends and family to help you Make a Splash!
this Lent, so that girls like Guti can have clean water and go
to school.
Saturday 13 February


6. Reflect
• Gospel reading: Luke 4:1-13
• What does the Gospel reading teach us today?
Sunday 14 February
First Sunday of Lent


7. Act
• Water is essential for life.
Monday 15 February
Click here to watch our
animation and find out
more about water and why
it is so important.


8. Pray
• “I was thirsty and you gave me
a drink” Matthew 25:35
• This Lent, we remember that
giving drink to the thirsty is one
of the Acts of Mercy. Pray for
those around the world who do
not have enough water to
drink.
Tuesday 16 February


9. Act
• Tell someone at home how clean water can help girls
like Guti go to school.
Wednesday 17 February
Click here to watch
Guti’s film again.


10. Act
• Save water today – turn off the tap when brushing your
teeth.
• What else can you do?
Thursday 18 February


11. Act
• Eat simply today and put
any money you save
towards your Lent collection.
Friday 19 February
Lent Fast Day
Check out CAFOD’s
latest blog to see how
others around the world
are taking action in the
Year of Mercy.


12. Pray
• Say a prayer for children around the world who do not
have access to safe, clean water.
Saturday 20 February


13. Reflect
• Gospel reading: Luke 9:28-36
• What does the Gospel reading teach us today?
Sunday 21 February
Second Sunday of Lent


14. Act
• Add a droplet to your school’s Make a Splash! poster.
• Write a Lenten promise or a message to Guti about why
you are making a splash this Lent.
Monday 22 February


15. Pray
• Light a candle and pray for Guti and the people of
Uganda today.
Tuesday 23 February


16. Act
• Imagine life without taps! Play our water game.
Wednesday 24 February
Click here to
download the
game.
Invite a CAFOD
volunteer in to
school to play the
game with you.


17. Give
• Make a Splash! by holding a sponge throwing fundraiser,
or another activity of your choice. Remember to save
any water for your school veggie patch.
Thursday 25 February


18. Act
• What action will you take to
show kindness to others?
Friday 26 February
Check out CAFOD’s
latest blog to see how
others around the world
are taking action in the
Year of Mercy.


19. Act
• List all the ways we can use water sensibly over the next
week.
Saturday 27 February


20. Reflect
• Gospel reading: Luke 13:1-9
• What does the Gospel reading teach us today?
Sunday 28 February
Third Sunday of Lent


21. Act
• Find out more about Fairtrade.
• Explain to someone at home what
you have learnt about Fairtrade. Ask
your family to but one Fairtrade
product this week.
Monday 29 February
Fairtrade fortnight begins
Click here find out
more about Fairtrade
on Picture my World


22. Act
• Pope Francis has written a letter to every person in the
world, asking us all to protect our common home – the
earth. In this letter, Pope Francis reminds us that water
is a basic human right.
Tuesday 1 March
Click here to watch
our Laudato Si’
animation and find
out more about the
pope’s letter.


23. Pray
• Write your own prayer about caring for our common
home. Use the words from the Laudato Si’ animation to
help you.
Wednesday 2 March
Click here for
the script.


24. Give
• Spend a penny! Put a collection box at the entrance of
the toilets. Remember 1 in 3 people who do not have
access to toilets around the world.
Thursday 3 March


25. Act
• What action will you take to
show kindness to others?
Friday 4 March
Check out CAFOD’s
latest blog to see how
others around the world
are taking action in the
Year of Mercy.


26. Act
• Help out with some jobs at home, without being asked.
Saturday 5 March


27. Reflect
• Gospel reading: Luke
15:1-3, 11-32
• What does the Gospel
reading teach us today?
• It’s Mother’s Day – do
something nice for your
mum or other special
women today.
Sunday 6 March
Fourth Sunday or Lent


28. Act
• Our Lent story this year focuses on
a school in Uganda, where Guti
goes.
Monday 7 March
Click here to find out more
about Uganda in our fact file.
Complete the Uganda activity
sheet.


29. Reflect
• God calls us to work together to look after our world,
and share what we have so that everyone has what they
need. Building a better world is not just about having
more money; it is about respecting yourself and others,
and becoming the best person you can be.
Tuesday 8 March


30. Act
• Fairtrade fortnight ends on Sunday. Have you bought
any Fairtrade Easter eggs yet?
Wednesday 9 March


31. Give
• Splash for cash! Do a sponsored swim or another event
today to raise money, to support girls like Guti to have
clean water, and go to school.
Thursday 10 March


32. Act
• What action will you take to
show kindness to others?
Friday 11 March
Check out CAFOD’s
latest blog to see how
others around the world
are taking action in the
Year of Mercy.


33. Pray
• Think of the different ways we use water. Say a prayer
of thanks that we have water to do all of these things
with.
Saturday 12 March


34. Reflect
• Gospel reading: John 8:1-11
• What does the Gospel reading teach us today?
Sunday 13 March
Fifth Sunday or Lent


35. Act
• Count the number of taps at your home or school.
Imagine what life would be like without these taps.
• Write a message on a water droplet to explain why you
are making a splash this Lent. Take it home and stick it
on your bathroom door.
Monday 14 March


36. Act
• Water is a human right. This
means it is something that every
person should have or be able to
do. Find out what other rights
everyone should have – look at
the UN Convention on the Rights
of the Child.
• In this Year of Mercy, let’s
remember the rights of refugees
around the world, and think about
the how we can show love and
mercy this Lent.
Tuesday 15 March


37. Reflect
• “I have come so that they may have life, and have it to
the full” John 10:10
• Say these words together and spend some time today
reflecting on them. Light a candle and play some quiet
music.
Wednesday 16 March


38. Give
• Make a river of coins – put foil down and bring in silver
coins to Make a Splash! with CAFOD this Lent.
Thursday 17 March
St Patrick’s Day


39. Act
• What action will you take to
show kindness to others?
Friday 18 March
Check out CAFOD’s
latest blog to see how
others around the world
are taking action in the
Year of Mercy.


40. Act
• Using Guti’s story, think about the different ways that
water brings life.
• Make signs for the taps at school that read “Free, safe
drinking water”.
Saturday 19 March


41. Reflect
• Gospel reading: Luke 19:28-40
• What does the Gospel reading teach us today?
Sunday 20 March
Palm Sunday


42. Give
• Decide as a class or school, when to bring in all the
money you have raised to Make a Splash! this Lent.
• Remember to mark it ‘Lent 16’ and return it before July,
to be matched by the UK government.
Monday 21 March


43. Act
• About 1 in 10 people do not have safe, clean water.
• Tell others what you have done to Make a Splash! this
Lent, so that girls like Guti can have clean water and go
to school.
Tuesday 22 March
World Water Day


44. Act
• Cut out water droplets from scrap paper, and write
thank you messages on them for the people who
sponsored you or gave money to help Make a Splash!
this Lent.
Wednesday 23 March


45. Reflect
• Today, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet at the Last Supper.
Think about how you can serve others.
Thursday 24 March
Holy Thursday


46. Pray
• Say a prayer today for
children who have to carry
water for miles for their
families.
Friday 25 March
Good Friday
Remember to check
out CAFOD’s latest
blog to see how others
around the world are
taking action in the
Year of Mercy.


47. Act
• Make Easter cards for your family and friends.
Saturday 26 March
Holy Saturday
Click here to
download Easter card
templates to colour in.


48. Happy Easter. Alleluia.
Sunday 27 March
Easter Sunday
Photo credits: Ben White, Riccardo Gangale
Illustrations: Per Karlen