The Southern Cross | March 2025

As we embark upon the sacred season of Lent in this Jubilee Year of 2025, our hearts are drawn to the call of the Lord to renew our faith, deepen our communion and walk as pilgrims of hope.

This holy season invites us to prayer, fasting and almsgiving, guiding us towards a transformation that echoes the spirit of the Synod on Synodality (2023-2024). The synodal journey has been a time of listening, discernment and unity in the Holy Spirit, preparing us to embrace the Jubilee theme, Pilgrims of Hope.

Lent, a season of conversion and grace, is the path upon which we are invited to journey more deeply into the mystery of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. As the Church continues its synodal process, we are reminded that we are a people walking together, discerning the promptings of the Holy Spirit and responding to the call of mission in our time.

We also renew our commitment to Christ, deepening our awareness of His love and mercy, and accompanying one another toward Easter’s radiant joy.

LENT: A CALL TO LIFE AND RENEWAL

Lent is always a time of conversion and grace, however in this Jubilee year, it takes on a special significance. We are invited to live Lent not merely as a season of penance but as a journey of profound renewal and, ultimately, a journey to Easter.

The Synod has encouraged us to rediscover our identity as a Church that listens and walks together, fostering communion and participation. This means that our Lenten practices must not be individualistic but communal, embracing the needs of our sisters and brothers, especially the poor, the marginalised and those preparing for the sacraments of initiation.

A poignant story which I heard at the Synod comes to mind. In a small parish in Africa, a group of catechumens – men and women preparing for baptism – gather each week, sharing their testimonies of how Christ has transformed their lives. One young woman, Maria, fled war and found refuge in the Church. Through the love and accompaniment of the Christian community, she encountered Jesus and now awaits the Easter Vigil with hope in her heart. Her journey mirrors that of the early Christians, and those from our own Archdiocese, and reminds us that Lent is about walking together toward the light of Christ.

A CALL TO SYNODALITY: WALKING TOGETHER IN LENT

The Synod on Synodality has opened our hearts to the reality that the Church is not an institution distant from its people but a communion of believers journeying together. This Lent, let us consider what it means to walk together in faith. Just as Jesus journeyed through the desert for 40 days, facing trials and temptations, we too are called to reflect on the challenges we encounter and to support one another in our Lenten disciplines.

Synodality invites us to listen deeply – to God, to the Church and to one another. It is a journey of encounter, dialogue and accompaniment. During this season, let us make space for moments of prayerful silence, for engaging with Scripture and for listening to the voices of those who feel unheard. As we practice fasting and almsgiving, let us extend our hands to the marginalised, the poor and the suffering, recognising Christ in them.

LENT: A SEASON OF CONVERSION AND RENEWAL

Conversion is at the heart of Lent. The prophet Joel reminds us, ‘Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning’ (Joel 2:12). In this Jubilee Year, the call to conversion is intensified, for it is a time of grace and renewal, a moment to embrace God’s mercy and to walk more faithfully in His light.

This season challenges us to turn away from sin and selfishness, embracing, or turning toward a life of holiness and self-giving love. Pope Francis reminds us that true conversion is not just personal but communal – it calls us to foster relationships of justice, peace and reconciliation. As we reflect on the fruits of the Synod, let us examine how we live as Church. Are we inclusive, welcoming, and open to the movement of the Holy Spirit? Do we serve one another with humility and love?

Through acts of penance, we align ourselves more closely with the suffering Christ. Fasting helps us detach from worldly excess, prayer deepens our relationship with God and almsgiving opens our hearts to the needs of our brothers and sisters. In these ways, we prepare for the joy of Easter, when Christ makes all things new.

THE CATECHUMENS: A LIVING SIGN OF HOPE

Each year, the Church prepares new members to receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist. These catechumens, like the woman at the well in the Gospel of John (Jn 4:5-42), thirst for the living water that only Christ can give. Their presence among us is a gift, reminding us of our own baptismal call and urging us to renew our faith with sincerity.

This Lent, I encourage every parish community to journey closely with those preparing for baptism. Let us embrace them with love, encourage them with prayer, and share our own stories of faith. Their witness strengthens us all, rekindling our first love for Christ and His Church.

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