Lenten Message from the Chair of the Board and Director of Education

This year Ash Wednesday, a holy day of prayer and fasting that is recognized by many Christian denominations, falls on February 14, 2024. On this day, members of the Catholic community gather for liturgical celebrations in which they receive ashes, marked on their forehead in the sign of the cross, as a call to repentance and as a reminder of our need for love and forgiveness.

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the season of Lent. Over the next 40 days, we are called to pray, fast, and be charitable to others as we prepare for the most holy time of the year - Easter. We may consider adding moments of daily reflection, giving up something that takes us away from God, or devoting time to help others. Through these acts, we learn to live more like God, and to better reflect God’s likeness in the world around us.

In his message for Lent 2024, Pope Francis invites the faithful to “slow down and pause” for prayer and to assist our brothers and sisters in need, in order to change our own lives and the lives of our communities. Pope Francis said, “In the presence of God, we become brothers and sisters, more sensitive to one another: in place of threats and enemies, we discover companions and fellow travelers.” His Holiness encourages every Christian community to “let others see joyful faces, catch the scent of freedom and experience the love that makes all things new, beginning with the smallest and those nearest to us.” 

Pope Francis’ messaging connects to our 2023-2024 spiritual theme, Speaking with the Heart. We are invited to continue to reflect on what it means to communicate “according to God's style”, welcoming encounters with others as “heart speaks to heart.”

The Lenten journey provides an opportunity for us to nurture our faith and live a more Christ-filled life. On behalf of the Durham Catholic District School Board, we wish you a blessed Lenten season.

Yours in Faith,

Monique Forster                                         Tracy Barill
Chair of the Board                                      Director of Education