We are at the threshold of another very significant period in our journey of faith – Lent.

During this Lent, focusing on the three theological virtues, Pope Francis invites us to “renew our faith, draw from the living waters of hope, and to receive with open hearts the love of God.”

In his reflections, he reminds us that lent is a journey of conversion. It is a time of,

• Believing - for welcoming God into our lives and allowing Him to make His dwelling in us.
• Hoping - for receiving the hope of Christ who gave his life on the cross and was raised by God on the third day.
• Loving - for caring for those who suffer or feel abandoned … to speak words of reassurance, and help others to realise that God loves them as sons and daughters.

The call to experience Lent as a journey of conversion, fasting, prayer and sharing of our goods, he continues, helps us as individuals and communities “to revive the faith that comes from the living Christ, the hope inspired by the breath of the Holy Spirit and the love flowing from the merciful heart of the Father.”