A season of reflection, repentance, and spiritual growth in the Christian tradition. It is a time to prepare for Easter by deepening one's relationship with God through prayer, fasting, and acts of service. 

Lenten Activities for Deepening Faith, Transforming Character, and Growing in Charity

Lent is a sacred season of reflection, repentance, and conversion in the Christian life. It prepares us for Easter by reshaping our hearts through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, so that we may become more charitable persons and more authentic disciples of Christ.

On Living Simply

“Live simply so that others may simply live.” — Elizabeth Ann Seton

“Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify, simplify! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand.” — Henry David Thoreau

On Loving Deeply

“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.” — Saint Augustine

“Intense love does not measure, it just gives.” — Mother Teresa

On Giving Freely

“No one has ever become poor by giving.” — Anne Frank

“Lent is a fitting time for self-denial; we would do well to ask ourselves what we can give up in order to help and enrich others by our own poverty.” — Pope Francis

Beyond diocesan-wide initiatives such as the “Bag of Love” and other Lenten specific projects promoted by Caritas, SSVPs, and Caritas POHDs, the following individual, group, and family-focused activities are designed to help participants move from spiritual reflection to concrete transformation of character, especially in love of neighbour.

INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITIES

(Personal conversion leading to charitable living)

1. Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation
   
   

   • Follow a Lenten reading plan focusing on repentance, mercy, justice, and renewal.
     
     

   • Example: Meditate on the Psalms, the Sermon on the Mount, or Jesus’ journey to the Cross in the Gospels.
     
     

   • Formation Focus: Allow God’s Word to challenge selfishness and cultivate compassion.
     
     

2. Fasting and Abstinence
   
   

   • Give up a comfort, habit, or luxury (e.g. sweets, social media, excessive shopping).
     
     

   • Example: Fast on Fridays or abstain from meat as a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice.
     
     

   • Formation Focus: Learning self-control so that our hearts become freer to love others.
     
     

3. Prayer and Spiritual Journaling
   
   

   • Set aside daily prayer time for gratitude, repentance, and intercession for the poor.
     
     

   • Keep a Lenten journal recording insights, struggles, and movements of the heart.
     
     

   • Formation Focus: Growth in self-awareness and alignment with God’s will.
     
     

4. Acts of Charity and Service – “Do unto others”
   
   

   • Intentionally practise daily acts of kindness and generosity.
     
     

   • Example: Helping a neighbour, checking on the lonely, donating time or resources.
     
     

   • Formation Focus: Translating prayer into love-in-action.
     
     

5. Stations of the Cross
   
   

   • Pray the Stations weekly, linking Christ’s suffering to today’s suffering poor.
     
     

   • Example: Reflect on how each station calls us to compassion and solidarity.
     
     

   • Formation Focus: Seeing Christ in the wounded and marginalized.
     
     

6. Silence and Solitude
   
   

   • Create daily moments of silence to listen to God.
     
     

   • Example: 10–15 minutes of quiet prayer without distractions.
     
     

   • Formation Focus: Interior clarity that softens the heart toward others.
     
     

7. Examination of Conscience (Charity-Focused)
   
   

   • Reflect not only on sins of commission but also omission.
     
     

   • Example: “Where did I ignore the poor, the needy, the difficult person?”
     
     

   • Formation Focus: Conversion of attitudes, not just behaviours.
     
     

8. Lifestyle Audit for Charity
   
   

   • Review spending, time use, and consumption habits.
     
     

   • Formation Focus: Aligning lifestyle choices with Gospel simplicity.
     
     

9. Letter or Message of Reconciliation
   
   

   • Write to someone you have hurt or neglected.
     
     

   • Formation Focus: Healing relationships and restoring communion.
     
     

10. Daily “Charity Intention” Practice
    
    

    • Begin each day by choosing one intentional act of love.
      
      

    • Formation Focus: Training the heart to habitually choose love.
      
      

GROUP ACTIVITIES

(Communal formation shaping social conscience and shared mission)

1. Lenten Scripture or Faith-Sharing Groups
   
   

   • Meet weekly to reflect on Scripture or a Lenten book.
     
     

   • Example: The Cost of Discipleship (Bonhoeffer), Return of the Prodigal Son (Nouwen).
     
     

   • Formation Focus: Mutual encouragement toward deeper discipleship.
     
     

2. Community Service Projects – “Serve Together”
   
   

   • Organise group service activities with parish SSVP or POHD.
     
     

   • Example: Food drives, house cleaning for the elderly, visits to the sick.
     
     

   • Formation Focus: Learning charity as a communal Christian responsibility.
     
     

3. Prayer Circles or Lenten Vigils
   
   

   • Regular communal prayer focused on repentance, mercy, and justice.
     
     

   • Example: Weekly Taizé prayer or Holy Week vigil.
     
     

   • Formation Focus: Building compassion through shared prayer.
     
     

4. Group Stations of the Cross
   
   

   • Pray Stations together with reflections on modern social suffering.
     
     

   • Formation Focus: Connecting Christ’s Passion with today’s injustices.
     
     

5. Lenten Retreat or Day of Recollection
   
   

   • Focus on conversion, mercy, and charitable discipleship.
     
     

   • Formation Focus: Deep inner renewal leading to outward mission.
     
     

6. Group Fasting or Simplicity Challenge
   
   

   • Fast from social media, luxury spending, or comfort as a group.
     
     

   • Formation Focus: Solidarity and shared discipline.
     
     

7. Communal Reconciliation Services
   
   

   • Organise or attend parish reconciliation services.
     
     

   • Formation Focus: Healing hearts to love better.
     
     

8. Lenten Film or Book Discussions
   
   

   • Reflect on faith-based films or texts.
     
     

   • Example: The Passion of the Christ, Mere Christianity.
     
     

   • Formation Focus: Moral reflection and faith integration.
     
     

9. Almsgiving Initiatives
   
   

   • Group fundraising or collective donations.
     
     

   • Example: Supporting shelters, medical aid, education funds.
     
     

   • Formation Focus: Shared responsibility for the vulnerable.
     
     

10. Holy Week Liturgical Participation
    
    

    • Active involvement in Triduum liturgies.
      
      

    • Formation Focus: Encountering Christ’s love through liturgy.
      
      

11. Charity Reflection Circles
    
    

    • After service, reflect on how encounters changed attitudes.
      
      

    • Formation Focus: Turning experience into conversion.
      
      

12. “Adopt-a-Family” Lenten Journey
    
    

    • Walk with one needy family through Lent.
      
      

    • Formation Focus: Long-term compassion, not one-off aid.
      
      

13. Witness Sharing Sessions
    
    

    • Members share how Lent changed their outlook on charity.
      
      

    • Formation Focus: Encouraging faith through testimony.
      
      

COMBINING INDIVIDUAL & GROUP PRACTICES

• Accountability Partners – Support each other’s Lenten commitments.
  
  

• Lenten Charity Calendar – Weekly challenges combining prayer and action.
  
  

• Prayer Chains for the Poor – Continuous intercession for specific needs.
  
  

FOCUS ON CHILDREN

(Forming compassionate hearts early)

Prayer

• Creating a home prayer space
  
  

• Family prayer time
  
  

• Child-friendly Stations of the Cross
  
  

Fasting

• Simple sacrifices
  
  

• Fasting from bad habits
  
  

• Understanding Jesus’ sacrifice
  
  

Almsgiving

• Donations of toys or clothes
  
  

• Daily acts of kindness
  
  

• Rice Bowl participation
  
  

Additional Children’s Activities (NEW)

• “Kindness Journal” – Draw or write daily acts of love
  
  

• Charity Piggy Bank – Save for a chosen cause
  
  

• Role-Model Stories – Learn about saints known for charity
  
  

OTHER ENGAGING FAMILY ACTIVITIES

• Lenten calendars
  
  

• Crafts (Crown of Thorns, Love Chain)
  
  

• Bible storytelling
  
  

• Meatless Fridays with shared reflection
  
  

Overall Formation Goal

That Lent may not end as a season of activities,
but become a school of love —
forming hearts that pray deeply,
lives that sacrifice meaningfully,
and Christians who live charity as a way of life.

Church’s social teaching / ethics is a good area to do reflect upon.

"Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do." - Potter Stewart 

The Church’s social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Its roots are in the Hebrew prophets who announced God’s special love for the poor and called God’s people to a covenant of love and justice. It is a teaching founded on the life and words of Jesus Christ, who came “to bring glad tidings to the poor . . . liberty to captives . . . recovery of sight to the blind”(Lk 4:18-19), and who identified himself with “the least of these,” the hungry and the stranger (cf. Mt 25:45). 

The following principles offer a good basis for reflection and action. 

1. The Principle of Human Dignity.

"Every human being is created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ, and therefore is invaluable and worthy of respect as a member of the human family"

This is the bedrock principle of Catholic social teaching. Every person--regardless of race, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, employment or economic status, health, intelligence, achievement or any other differentiating characteristic--is worthy of respect. It is not what you do or what you have that gives you a claim on respect; it is simply being human that establishes your dignity. Given that dignity, the human person is, in the Catholic view, never a means, always an end.

The body of Catholic social teaching opens with the human person, but it does not close there. Individuals have dignity; individualism has no place in Catholic social thought. The principle of human dignity gives the human person a claim on membership in a community, the human family.

2. The Principle of Respect for Human Life.

"Every person, from the moment of conception to natural death, has inherent dignity and a right to life consistent with that dignity"

Human life at every stage of development and decline is precious and therefore worthy of protection and respect. It is always wrong directly to attack innocent human life. The Catholic tradition sees the sacredness of human life as part of any moral vision for a just and good society.

3. The Principle of Association.

"Our tradition proclaims that the person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society--in economics and politics, in law and policy--directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community"

The centerpiece of society is the family; family stability must always be protected and never undermined. By association with others--in families and in other social institutions that foster growth, protect dignity and promote the common good--human persons achieve their fulfillment.

4. The Principle of Participation.

"We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable"

Without participation, the benefits available to an individual through any social institution cannot be realized. The human person has a right not to be shut out from participating in those institutions that are necessary for human fulfillment.

This principle applies in a special way to conditions associated with work. "Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected--the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to organize and join unions, to private property, and to economic initiative"

5. The Principle of Preferential Protection for the Poor and Vulnerable.

"In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the last judgment (Mt. 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first"

Why is this so? Because the common good--the good of society as a whole--requires it. The opposite of rich and powerful is poor and powerless. If the good of all, the common good, is to prevail, preferential protection must move toward those affected adversely by the absence of power and the presence of privation. Otherwise the balance needed to keep society in one piece will be broken to the detriment of the whole.

6. The Principle of Solidarity.

"Catholic social teaching proclaims that we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they live. We are one human family.... Learning to practice the virtue of solidarity means learning that ’loving our neighbor’ has global dimensions in an interdependent world"

The principle of solidarity functions as a moral category that leads to choices that will promote and protect the common good.

7. The Principle of Stewardship.

"The Catholic tradition insists that we show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation"

The steward is a manager, not an owner. In an era of rising consciousness about our physical environment, our tradition is calling us to a sense of moral responsibility for the protection of the environment--croplands, grasslands, woodlands, air, water, minerals and other natural deposits. Stewardship responsibilities also look toward our use of our personal talents, our attention to personal health and our use of personal property.

8. The Principle of Subsidiarity.

This principle deals chiefly with "the responsibilities and limits of government, and the essential roles of voluntary associations"

The principle of subsidiarity puts a proper limit on government by insisting that no higher level of organization should perform any function that can be handled efficiently and effectively at a lower level of organization by human persons who, individually or in groups, are closer to the problems and closer to the ground. Oppressive governments are always in violation of the principle of subsidiarity; overactive governments frequently violate this principle.

All eight of these principles were culled from the relatively brief "Reflections of the U.S. Catholic Bishops," as the second subtitle of Sharing Catholic Social Teaching describes this published product of the N.C.C.B. As I read on through the summary of the task force report, I found an articulation of two additional principles, which follow.

9. The Principle of Human Equality.

"Equality of all persons comes from their essential dignity.... While differences in talents are a part of God’s plan, social and cultural discrimination in fundamental rights... are not compatible with God’s design"

Treating equals equally is one way of defining justice, also understood classically as rendering to each person his or her due. Underlying the notion of equality is the simple principle of fairness; one of the earliest ethical stirrings felt in the developing human person is a sense of what is "fair" and what is not.

10. The Principle of the Common Good.

"The common good is understood as the social conditions that allow people to reach their full human potential and to realize their human dignity"

The social conditions the bishops have in mind presuppose "respect for the person," "the social well-being and development of the group" and the maintenance by public authority of "peace and security." Today, "in an age of global interdependence," the principle of the common good points to the "need for international structures that can promote the just development of the human family across regional and national lines."

What constitutes the common good is always going to be a matter for debate. The absence of any concern for or sensitivity to the common good is a sure sign of a society in need of help. As a sense of community is eroded, concern for the common good declines. 

To enhance the reflection process:

• Consider journaling your responses.

• Discuss these questions with family, friends, or a spiritual director.

• Look for opportunities to put your reflections into action.

Questions to Explore:

• What are some ways these principles affirm our work? 

• What are some ways these principles challenge our work? 

1. Dignity of the Human Person:

• "During this Lent, how have I actively recognized and upheld the inherent dignity of every person I encounter, especially those marginalized or overlooked?"

• "Where have I failed to see the face of Christ in others, and how can I work to change that perspective?"

• "How does my consumption and lifestyle either support or undermine the dignity of workers, particularly those in vulnerable situations?"

2. The Common Good:

• "In what ways have I prioritized my own needs over the needs of the community, and how can I reorient my focus toward the common good?"

• "How can I use my time, talents, and resources to contribute to a more just and equitable society?"

• "Am I actively working to bridge divides and foster unity within my community?"

3. Solidarity:

• "How have I shown solidarity with those who are suffering, both locally and globally?"

• "What steps can I take to better understand and address the root causes of poverty and injustice?"

• "How can I amplify the voices of the marginalized and advocate for their rights?"

4. Subsidiarity:

• "Do I empower those around me, or do I centralize power and decision-making?"

• "How can I support local initiatives and community-based solutions to social problems?"

• "Am I respecting the role of families and other intermediate groups in society?"

5. Care for God's Creation:

• "How am I fulfilling my responsibility to be a steward of God's creation?"

• "What changes can I make in my daily life to reduce my environmental impact?"

• "How can I advocate for policies that protect the environment and promote sustainability?"

6. Rights and Responsibilities:

• "Am I attentive to the rights of those around me, or do I only focus on my own?"

• "How do I balance my individual rights with my responsibilities to the community?"

• "In what ways can I better promote and defend human rights?"