This document provides a weekly Lenten programme for Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Westville. It includes daily Scripture passages and reflections on repentance, seeing Jesus in others, forgiveness, and living a perfect life through faith. Practical suggestions exhort attending Mass, giving to the poor, reconciliation, and quiet prayer. The overall message is that Lent is an opportunity for change, renewal and transformation as believers accept Jesus' invitation to repent and believe in the Gospel.

1. .
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish
Westville
Lenten Programme 2015
Come Back to Me
WEEK ONE

2. SUNDAY 22 FEBRUARY
It is tempting not to read today’s Scripture because you have heard it at Mass. Resist the
temptation and take some time to read again this short passage of Scripture.
Scripture: Mark 1: 12 - 15
Reflection
“Repent and believe in the Gospel.” With these words of Jesus, the Ashes were
traced with the Sign of the Cross on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday. It is both
an invitation and an instruction. We can understand and readily accept the
call/instruction to believe in the Gospel, but what does it mean to ‘repent’?
Repentance is a change of heart and mind that brings us closer to God. It includes
turning away from sin and turning to God for forgiveness. It is motivated by love
for God and a sincere desire to obey His commandments. There is a lovely Greek
word for this: Metanoia – meaning a change of heart, a bit like doing a u-turn.
This what Jesus is calling us to during this Lenten Season.
It is a time and an opportunity for Change, Renewal and Transformation. All of
this comes about through our willingness to accept the invitation from Jesus and
to use this special time to bring about some genuine change within ourselves so
that we may emerge better people at Easter.
For this to happen, there needs to be a desire within oneself to change. As we
begin this first week of Lent, we have to seriously contemplate what needs to be
changed in our lives in order to become a better person. Its one thing to
acknowledge what needs to be changed, its another to want to change, to shift
from our comfort zone of bad or incorrect habits, behaviour and attitudes, into a
more Christ-like way of life.
This is our time. God is wanting to do wonderful things for us and within us. Lent
is a call, an invitation to metanoia. Will you accept this invitation?
Practical Suggestion
Go to Mass and receive the Eucharist as often as possible this Lent. Read Scripture
daily (especially the Gospels), and focus God alone through your daily time of
personal prayer.
Prayer
Father, I place myself in your hands at the beginning of this first week of Lent.
Strengthen my resolve to become a better person and to be born-again in Christ at
Easter. Guide my Lenten Journey and help me to resist temptation. Amen
Some suggestions for your Lenten Season
1. Attend a weekday Mass or Masses and receive Holy Communion;
2. Attend the weekly Stations of the Cross – Fridays at 6.00pm;
3. Give up something non-essential that you usually enjoy and/or something that
will make you a better person by the end of Lent;
4. Go to Confession – preferably as soon as possible and again at the Penitential
Service during Holy Week (31 March);

3. 5. Establish and maintain a daily routine of prayer. Use this daily programme to
read God’s Word and to reflect on it;
6. Pray a decade of the Rosary every day (the Sorrowful Mysteries);
7. Keep Fridays during Lent as days of Prayer, Fast and Abstinence (Mass at
8.30am and Stations of the Cross at 6.00pm); Make your intention for your
Fast and Abstinence the return of lapsed Catholics – especially those you
know. Make a list of them and pray for them daily;
8. Contribute generously to the Bishops’ Lenten Appeal;
9. Invite a lapsed Catholic to attend Sunday Mass and/or Stations of the Cross
with you;
10. Pray for the Catechumens and Candidates of our parish who will be Baptised
and/or Received into Full Communion with the Church at Easter. Find out
who they are and offer them some words of encouragement and support.
11. Create a Lenten prayer space in your home: a purple cloth, purple candle,
bible, crucifix and rosary;
12.Share this weekly programme with someone.
MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY
Scripture: Matthew 25 : 31-46
“Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren,
you did it to me’
Reflection
This is such a familiar passage of scripture that we can almost recite it off by heart.
Think about how much time and effort we put into ensuring we have the tastiest
food on our tables, thirst-quenching drinks stacked up in our fridges to keep them
icy cold and the latest clothing items in our cupboards. “So?” you may ask, “What
is wrong with that?” In all honesty, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that
and each day we should be thanking God for his love and generosity to us, but
Jesus reminds us that it’s not all about “me”.
Lent is a time for us to reflect on the fact that many of the luxuries we work so
hard to accumulate in life are essentially unnecessary to our overall well-being and
happiness. Lent is a time to take the focus off “me” and “what I want.” It is a time
to look outwards to others and their needs. It’s a time to look past the mattered
hair of the beggar and see the face of Jesus. It’s time to look past the grubby hands
outstretched to you and see the hands of Jesus. It’s a time to look past the
toothless smile of an elderly person and see the smile of Jesus. See Jesus in the

4. giggles of the toddlers, the love of a mother for her tiny baby, the strength of the
father lifting his young child up in his arms, the gaze of two people in love or the
nurse supporting a recovering patient on her arm. Lent is a time to see Jesus in
those we come into contact with; the good, the bad and the ugly.
Practical Suggestion
Look through your cupboards this week and take out a few items of clothing which
you haven’t worn for a while. Parcel them up and either take them to church to be
given to the poor or find a needy person while out on your travels and give the
parcel to them. If you are accustomed to eating special treats with your tea and
coffee or fancy desserts after your meal, why not try to cut them out during this
week as an exercise in self-denial.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, each day when I awake, you meet my daily needs. You only ask
that I, in turn, show compassion for those around me. Give me your strength so
that I can show your love and compassion to those I meet this week. Help me to
see the world through your eyes and to open my heart in service to others. Amen
TUESDAY 24 FEBRUARY
Scripture: Psalm 34
“The Lord rescues them in all their distress”
Reflection
Today’s Psalm refers to the Lord rescuing “them” in distress, whereas more often
than not, it is us, as individuals, asking the Lord to rescuing ME, in MY distress.
Our existence, due the stress and strains that we allow to permeate into our daily
lives, tends to be rather self-centred. Ofen we think only of our own problems and
how I need to be rescued.
The psalm, in the first sentence encourages us to: “Glorify the Lord with me;
TOGETHER let US praise His name.”
You will notice that the “me” above is a small whilst, “TOGETHER” and “US,” is
large and BOLD. This is done with others in mind first, and doing things with
each other. That is how we will learn to overcome our own distresses and find
that the Lord is always there to “rescue (all) of us”.

5. Practical Suggestion
If you are feeling stressed, take some “time out.” Find a friend (or friends) and
together pray the “Our Father” (and more, if you wish). Then you will feel the JOY
of Jesus entering into your space.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, we need You, to help us to care for others before we focus on
ourselves. Help me to feel the JOY that you give to all who place their faith in you.
Amen.
WEDNESDAY 25 FEBRUARY
Scripture : Jonah 3: 1 – 10 Luke 11: 29 - 32
Reflection
We all look for signs. There might even be times when we are desperate for a sign.
We might even dare to pray for a sign! That is what the people had been wanting
from Jesus. The greatest sign of all was among them, right there in their midst,
and they could not see, they could not recognise!
The story of Jonah in the belly of a huge fish prefigures Jesus in the tomb after his
death and before his resurrection. But how could they possibly know that! How
could they even begin to see that?
We are frequently so busy looking for some kind of spectacular sign that we miss
the Lord’s presence right here among us – in the ways he has chosen: in the
Eucharist, in Confession, in the gift of each day, in personal prayer, in Sacred
Scripture. His presence is all around us, even in the people whom we encounter.
The problem is that our hearts have become hardened and therefore closed to his
presence.
Lent is our time to experience metanoia; to allow God to change our hearts from
being as hard as stone, to hearts for love alone. This begins to happen only
through our willingness to embrace the Lenten experience. Then something
wonderful happens: not just our hearts but our eyes, our hearts, and whole being
becomes sensitised to the awesome presence of God, all around us!
Because their hearts had become so hardened, the critics of Jesus could not
experience the wonder of his presence. Their hard hearts made it impossible to
recognise God in their midst.
Do not harden your heart this Lent but be softened and open to the wonderful
presence of God.

6. Practical Suggestion
Make some quiet time for yourself today, even if its later tonight when everyone is
asleep. Sit quietly and alone. Let the stillness surround you. Enjoy the
peace and quiet. Feel the presence of Jesus. Ask him to come into your
heart and to soften your heart.
Prayer
A pure heart create in me O God. Give me again the Joy of your help. Amen.
THURSDAY 26 FEBRUARY
Scripture: Matthew 7: 7 - 12
Reflection
The Gospel speaks with the voice of a loving, caring and compassionate parent.
“Ask and it will be given to you, knock and the door will be opened…” Sometimes
what we receive is not what we asked for. We this happens it is easy to lose hope or
become disillusioned. Jesus did not promise that we would receive all our desires.
What he does promise is that we will receive good things. This is actually what
happens although we just might not understand it at that precise time.
We need to learn how to thank God for unanswered prayers. This is a challenging
lesson to teach our children and ourselves. Do we, as the scripture says “who are
wicked, know how to give good gifts” to our children?
It is easy to give in to the demands of our children; buy this, take us here, go there,
I want. When we do this, are we giving them the gifts Jesus wants us to give?
Don’t always give in or give up. Just do what is right, good, just and pure. Ask
God to give you the strength, help and guidance you need.
Practical Suggestion
“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.” This is really good advice.
It is a good Christian guideline for making the difficult decisions. Can you put this
into practise?
Prayer
Loving Father, help me to know and understand how I can reach out to others.
May I be a good example of Christian discipleship to those who look to me for help
and guidance. Amen

7. FRIDAY 27 FEBRUARY
Scripture: Matthew 5 : 20 – 26
Reflection:
Eusebius, a 3rd century Church Father, offered the following prayer as instruction
for his fellow Christians:
"May I be no man's enemy, and may I be the friend of that which is eternal and
abides. May I never quarrel with those nearest me: and if I do, may I be reconciled
quickly. May I love, seek, and attain only that which is good. May I wish for all
men's happiness and envy none. May I never rejoice in the ill-fortune of one who
has wronged me. When I have done or said what is wrong, may I never wait for the
rebuke of others, but always rebuke myself until I make amends. May I win no
victory that harms either me or my opponent. May I reconcile friends who are
angry with one another. May I never fail a friend who is in danger. When visiting
those in grief may I be able by gentle and healing words to soften their pain. May I
respect myself. May I always keep tame that which rages within me. May I
accustom myself to be gentle, and never be angry with people because of
circumstances. May I never discuss who is wicked and what wicked things he has
done, but know good men and follow in their footsteps."
What an extraordinary prayer! It is easy to write-off this pray of Eusebius as being
idealistic, unrealistic and unattainable. Don’t! This is the great Lenten challenge:
to do better and to be better. Yes we can do this! It is realistically possible when
we ask and allow God to change our hearts.
Practical Suggestion:
Lent is the “Spring-time” of our faith. It’s a time to cleanse our hearts and to be
reconciled with others who have hurt us and vice versa. Go to confession
tomorrow or plan ahead to go to confession at the Penitential Service on 31 March.
Today, make a good Act of Contrition: O my God, because you are so good, I am
sorry that I have sinned against you, and with your help, I will try not to sin again.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, through my sins and failings my heart has grown cold. Through your
healing presence and power make it warm, compassionate and forgiving towards
everyone, even those who do me harm. May I only think and say what is pleasing
to you and be of good and kind service to all I meet. Amen.
Remember Stations of the Cross tonight at 6.00pm
as well as Stations of the Cross for children

8. SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY
Scripture: Matthew 5: 43 - 48
Reflection
We know that in the life to come we will be made perfect. St. John writes, “Dear
friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made
known. But we know that when he (Jesus) appears, we shall be like him.”
1 John 3: 2.
The question which concerns us today is; can we be perfect in this life? In biblical
times being perfect did not mean being sinless or being as holy as God is holy.
Rather it meant to be ‘complete, finished or mature’.
A Christian is perfect (complete, finished, mature) when they practice their faith
in the daily stuff of their lives. This means not only being loving, kind and
understanding when we are at Mass, but wherever we may be – at home, at work,
on the sports field, at a social event - wherever. It means being loving, kind and
understanding to everyone, and not only to those who are good to us. “So in
everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” Matthew 7: 12.
Practical Suggestion
God has given us the Sacrament of Reconciliation that we may be forgiven. He
also gives us the grace and power to forgive (2 Corinthians 5: 18). Is there someone
with whom I have had a ‘falling out’ and haven’t spoken to for a long time? Now is
the time to be reconciled to them.
Prayer
Father, I often ask for forgiveness from you for my sins, failings, weakness,
transgressions and my many faults. Grant me the grace and strength to be
merciful and forgiving. May I be willing to reach out to others and, with your help,
to be reconciled and renewed. Amen.
These Lenten Reflections are written by Fr. Desmond Nair, Veronica Donnelly, Deacon Mark
Wardell and Deacon Peter Venter. They have been edited for use in the Parish of Our Lady of
Lourdes, Westville. We write these reflections for the glory of God and for the good of His
Church and all his people. You may copy and distribute but please acknowledge the authors and
their work. We wish you a blessed and fruitful Lenten Season as we respond to the Lord’s call
and invitation to Come Back to Me.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Westville. Lent 2015