Lent in Lockdown – Resources
Thursday 11th March 2021As we move through another Lent with some form of Covid restrictions placed upon our lives, it is important that we look inwards and continue to live out our faith at home. While some churches are open, the Sunday obligation remains lifted and so we understand some people are unable to attend church.
We have compiled the below list of resources to help you sustain your prayer life this Lent.
If you have a resource or reflection you would like to include, please send it for consideration to communications@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
You can find a PDF of all the resources below, plus additional prayers, by clicking here
Pastoral Letter
Bishop John has written a Pastoral Letter to be read in parishes around our diocese on the weekend of 13th/14th February as we face another Lent in some form of lockdown.
In his Pastoral Letter, read in parishes on the 13th/14th February, Bishop John has shared his disappointment in having to face another Lent with Covid restrictions, but also called on us all to “accept the circumstances in which we find ourselves and establish guidelines and encouragement for the Season of Lent, while keeping one another safe” and to make our Lent holy through Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving.
Read the Pastoral Letter here, or listen to a recording of Bishop John reading his letter here.
Lent Video Series: Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving
Bishop John’s Homilies
You can find transcriptions of Bishop John’s Sunday Homilies during Lent at the following links.
Resources for Individuals
To find out more about each resource, simply click on the arrow to expand the box.
Lent in Isolation
You can access last year’s videos using this link, which may prove useful in finding a few moments of peace and reflection.
Loyola Press Resources
You can find Lent resources from Loyola Press here
The Lent Encounter by the Bible Society
You can join the Bible Society’s Lent Encounter course for 40 days by clicking here.
Best Lent Ever by Dynamic Catholic
Dynamic Catholic have produced a resource called The Best Lent Ever which you can access here.
Sr Brenda’s Written Reflections
Sr Brenda has written a series of reflections which can be found using the links below
Reflection One – A Spiritual Springtime
Reflection Two – The Joy of Lent
Reflection Three – Passion for Jesus
Knowing Jesus: Jesuit Lent Online Retreat
Knowing Jesus: Lent Online Retreat 2021
Walk with us through Lent and Easter and really come to understand and love Jesus. We will ponder Gospel stories, reflect on their meaning and see how startlingly relevant Jesus is to living a truly human life in the 21st Century.
Follow the retreat online, and sign up to an online group (places limited):
https://www.onlineprayer.net/
Registration to lead Lent Groups is also still open – link on the above page.
Sign up to receive daily emails during Lent and additional resources:
http://eepurl.com/hnIXAn
Follow the Lent Retreat on the Jesuits in Britian social media channels: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Envirolent Resources
Diocesan Envirolent Resources – You can access our Envirolent posters for parishes below.
Ignatian Workout for Lent
Tim Muldoon writes that, “Life in Christ demands the same kind of vigilance, preparation, and training that a person undertakes as an athlete.”
This Lent, become a spiritual athlete and join Tim for The Ignatian Workout for Lent. Each Monday he’ll share audio reflections accompanied by suggestions for prayer and action. Based on the book of the same name, the online retreat begins the week of Ash Wednesday and continues through Easter Week
https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/lent/the-ignatian-workout-for-lent-an-online-retreat/
Lord’s Day at Home
You can find our weekly Lord’s Day at Home sheet on our website by clicking here
Diocesan Lent Journal 2021
You can download our Lent Journal as a PDF by clicking here.
Pray as You Go Environment Meditation
Find a Pray as You Go Environment meditation here – Pray as you Go
40 Days with God’s Creatures
A phone app and brochure to help guide you through Lent. 40 Days with God’s Creatures can be found here.
Ignatian Scriptural Stations of the Cross
You can find a link to pray Ignatian Scriptural Stations of the Cross here.
Weekly Lenten Eco Thought
The Department for Formation have produced a weekly Eco-Thought, which we encourage you to reflect upon and share with anyone who may find it useful. You are welcome to share these graphics on social media. Click the images below to view them full size. You can access these thoughts for Lent in a word document by clicking here.
Resources for Families
Lenten Activities Poster (God who Speaks)
Gather some inspiration from The God Who Speaks team with this list of family activities for Lent
Holy Week & The Easter Story
Learn more about Holy Week and the Easter story in this resource from the God Who Speaks team here
Visual Holy Week Resources
You can find a visual poster for Holy Week which you can display in your homes by clicking here
School Resources and Stations of the Cross
You can find school resources, such as Stations of the Cross and Reconciliation Services, by clicking here
Year of St Joseph
Year of St Joseph – The Feast of St Joseph is during Lent, on 19th March. Perhaps you could create your own sleeping St Joseph?
Events
Find out more about virtual events ongoing in our diocese with the below links.
Let us Dream – Diocesan Lent Course with Austen Ivereigh
Let us Dream – Our Lenten Journey with Pope Francis, guided by Austen Ivereigh
Over the Wednesdays of Lent we will explore Pope Francis’ book, Let us Dream, with the assistance of Austen Ivereigh, who worked closely with Pope Francis on the book.
The course will begin with an Introductory presentation by Austen on Wednesday 24th February at 7pm.
Every Wednesday from 3rd March until 31st March we will meet 7pm-8.30pm, again with an opening reflection from Austen, to explore the book in five sections, share our thoughts, ask questions and deepen our understanding of the Lord’s call to us, to our Church and world through the teaching of Pope Francis.
Find out more at the link below and register by emailing formation@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Global Healing Speaker Series
The Laudato Si Animators are hosting a series on Zoom. Bishop John will introduce the series on Thursday 18th February and our own Head of Environment, Dr Emma Gardner, will speak at the event on Thursday 4th March. More information on how to book can be found at the link below
Livestreamed Choral Vespers from the Cathedral
The Office of Vespers, the traditional Evening Prayer of the Church, offers to God our praise for the day that is ending, and in the words of the Canticle of Mary, ‘glorifies the Lord’ for his goodness to us.
As we begin our Lenten journey, our Cathedral Choral Scholars will lead us in this communal prayer as we sing the Office of Vespers beginning on Thursday, 18th February at 5pm (the first Thursday after Ash Wednesday) and thereafter at the same time each Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. This will initially be live streamed only and we will be sharing an order of service via our website so that those watching online can participate safely and fully from home.
The live stream can be accessed via the cathedral website: www.salfordcathedral.co.uk
Giving Back at Lent
Caritas – St Joseph’s Penny Appeal
Caritas
As the social action agency of our diocese, Caritas helps put our faith into practical action by delivering a wide variety of services to the poor, vulnerable and isolated. During the season of Lent we traditionally make an appeal to our Catholic schools through St Joseph’s Penny to support our work. Created in 1904, this appeal has a great heritage in our diocese and seeks to inspire children to raise funds for those affected by poverty.
Mindful of the continuing challenges for us all, Caritas is ‘resting’ the usual St Joseph’s Penny boxes this year and instead encouraging schools to consider alternative and creative ways of fundraising. To assist we have created a series of resources on social action and charity to support schools, parishes and the wider community. These focus on the 3 pillars of Lenten observance: Prayer, Fasting and Giving (almsgiving).
Schools have been invited to provide Caritas with short prayers written by pupils on the on the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. These will be included in Caritas’ daily Prayer for the Day during Lent on social media and on the dedicated St Joseph’s Penny webpage (updated each Friday in Lent).
You can view Caritas Salford’s Lent resources by clicking here. There you will find school resources, how to donate, as well as weekly prayers from schools around our diocese.
CAFOD – Walk for Water
CAFOD
CAFOD has launched its Walk for Water Lent challenge and is calling on people to walk 10,000 steps a day, every day for 40 days.
They are calling on us all to go the distance this Lent and help to end water poverty.
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