Parishes across the Diocese have marked the beginning of Lent, celebrating Ash Wednesday across Broken Bay, as the faithful prepare for a season of repentance, reconciliation and hope.
Throughout the morning, parishioners visited their local parishes to receive the ashes, symbolic of both mortality and repentance. Even more are expected to visit their parishes this evening too.
At Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Waitara, Bishop Anthony Randazzo celebrated the 9:30am Mass, assisted by Deacon Kevin McGregor who was ordained the night before.
In his Homily, he encouraged the parishioners to remember the true spirit of lent lay in internal conversion, not external actions.
“Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of our pilgrimage into Easter hope, a journey that leads us through the desert of our own weaknesses and sinfulness toward the glorious light of the Resurrection,” he said.
“In this Holy Year, as pilgrims into hope, we are invited to reflect deeply on the grace and mercy of God, and to renew our commitment to living as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. The Scriptures today provide us with a powerful call to repentance, reconciliation, and hope.
“Lent is a season not merely of external actions, but of internal conversion, a time for us to draw near to God, to be purified by His grace, and to grow in love for God and for one another.”
Throughout the season of Lent, the faithful are encouraged to not only fast and abstain, but deepen their commitment to prayer and reconciliation.
Many parishes will observe the Stations of the Cross on Friday and others may offer reconciliation in the Second Rite or at more frequent times.
In his Lenten letter, Bishop Anthony gives the faithful a guide as to how to properly prepare for the Easter Season in the Holy Year 2025. The Diocese has also prepared “A Promise of Hope” a Lenten program to assist the faithful throughout the season of Lent.
You can read Bishop Anthony’s full Ash Wednesday homily here.