Chai Brady
Families are being encouraged to come together and discuss their ideas for Lent in order take on acts of prayer, fasting and almsgiving in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin.
Focusing on those three themes ‘Our KandLe Family Lenten Promises’ is a first for the diocese, and was inspired by the upcoming World Meeting of Families 2018 (WMOF).
“It’s about having a conversation around the table, sitting together so it gives families a time to spend a moment in the busyness of life just to put the pause button on and say: ‘We’re about to enter into lent, what is the season about, what could it be about for us as a family, and as individuals within the family’, and here’s a few ideas to explore,” said Julie Kavanagh, the diocesan representative for the WMOF.
Focusing on prayer: families are suggested to say a prayer before dinner, pray a decade of rosary, read and think about a passage from the Bible and more, as well as being asked to consider other proposals family members may have.
People are reminded that they can also take it a step further, as well as giving up cigarettes, sweets or alcohol while fasting, deciding to take up a positive action is a plus.
“So there’s an encouragement in the fact that everyone is aware of what other members of the family have chosen to do, and so we can support one another,” Ms. Kavanagh said.
“So there might be things as a family that we’ll do together, but even within that individual family members might choose to do particular things that others won’t, but we’re aware of it and we’re supporting one another.
“So for the child who gives up sweets maybe an older sibling isn’t going to sit down in front of them and munch through a packet of crisps.”
In terms of almsgiving, the newsletter states that: “Linked to our fasting, whatever form it may take, must be a concern for those who have no choice but to fast because of poverty and injustice.”
Families are asked to question how they will support Trócaire this Lent, or perform other acts of charity.
“We are trying to provide very doable resources for families in the context of the World Meeting of Families this August, so this something though that we want to provide for families that they can take out next year and do again as well so it goes beyond the event of the WMOF but it’s been triggered by it,” Ms. Kavanagh added.