Archbishop Christopher Prowse with St Christopher’s Cathedral Administrator, Fr Trenton van Reesch
St Christopher’s Cathedral Canberra
Archbishop Prowse challenged those attending the Ash Wednesday Mass in the Cathedral not to wipe the ashes off their forehead. “So when you’re asked ‘what happened to you?’ – there’s a free kick to tell them about Jesus who died and rose for our sins”
He also suggested approaching this year’s Lenten period as a retreat.
“We could all go together in prayer, fasting and alms-giving towards the Easter mysteries,” he said.
“St Ignatius Loyola often, at the beginning of a retreat, encouraged the retreatants to keep three questions in mind. What have I done for Christ? What am I doing for Christ? What ought I do for Christ?”
Ash Wednesday remains one of the most popular days on the liturgical calendar, with the cathedral Masses throughout the day drawing large numbers.
Goulburn
Students from Trinity Catholic College Goulburn attend Ash Wednesday Mass at Sts Peter & Paul’s Old Cathedral.
Sts Peter and Paul’s Old Cathedral in Goulburn had not a pew to spare at this morning’s Ash Wednesday Mass!
Parishioners Iris and Phillis said they loved attending the school mass and seeing the church filled with children.
“It really strengthens their faith for years to come,” Iris said.
“It is really special to have them all here, and the teachers do a wonderful job,” Phillis added.
Fr Joshy Kurien, the parish priest, said that for him, “Lent is a time of grace where we are going back to our basics and rejuvenating our faith journey, knowing that God loves us unconditionally, renewing our commitment and starting afresh.”
Corpus Christi parishioner Llewellyn O’Brien, with his daughter, Maria, attended one of the several Masses at the parish.
South Tuggeranong
Parishioner Llewellyn O’Brien, Corpus Christi Parish, South Woden, said, “I’m a convert, and Lent for me is a time to simplify things, to bring back that love that I first had for Christ.”
He and his daughter, Maria, attended one of the several Masses at the parish.
Fr James Antony, the parish priest, noted that the season of Lent “is a time to break our routines, through prayer, through fasting…to allow God to intervene in our lives.”
Wanniassa
Fr Tom Thornton, parish priest of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Wanniassa, said that for him, Lent is a time “to renew ourselves by recommitting ourselves to God’s discipleship and allowing ourselves to become his instruments to the world.”
And parishioners Chris and Maree Rule said that Lent was “a time to think about life, to review it, to commit yourself to Christ”
Fr Emil Milat PP Mary Help of Christians Parish receiving ashes from acolyte Gabriel Joseph
South Woden
Fr Emil Milat, parish priest of Mary Help of Christians Parish, South Woden, said, “Lent is about the 40-day journey to the grace that’s unlocked on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Easter becomes a profound experience, not just a long weekend.”
