Resources for Lent 2020

Explore the riches in Mercy Global Presence Segment One: Global using the four reflective posters and accompanying guides on the four themes: 'Cosmos/Cosmology', 'Earth and Integral Ecology', 'People and Deep Social Change', 'Incarnate God in Cosmos and in Person of Jesus'.

'A Journey Towards Ecological conversion'

The Lenten Reflection Guide for 2020 focuses on the concept of "ecological conversion," emphasized by Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si'. It offers reflections, prayers, and questions based on the scripture passages for each week of Lent and featuring the experiences of Maryknoll Missioners. 

A Retreat, Journey into Freedom, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola

I Thirst: This material was created to help people deepen their reflections on Jesus’ “I Thirst” during Lent by appreciating God’s gift of water, the divine presence living and acting within it, current water conditions on Earth, and how we can respond in faith. 

Laudato Si’: This material focuses on Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ encyclical highlighting the unity of all creation, current threats to it, relevant Scripture, causes of the problems, and potential solutions. Participants will read and pray with quotes from the document, discuss them and take actions. It also includes suggestions for music and media.

Setting our hearts on fire

Taking this biblical story as its starting point, the course invites us to ‘open the scriptures’ and read them with with both our hearts and our heads.

Resources on this theme include Solidarity calendar, prayer card, reflection and Way of the Cross.

'This series comes right from the heart of our lives as monks at SSJE, as it takes up the signs and symbols of our shared Christian worship.'

This resource explores six Earth life support systems as ways of God revealing, God inspiring, God challenging. These are: 

1. Atmosphere
2. Oceans
3. Fresh Water
4. Land
5. Plant Life
6. Animal Life

During the Season of Creation last fall, the Sisters of Mercy encouraged the Mercy Community to refrain from eating meat on Mondays for seven weeks. We took this action as one way to care for Earth, as meat production consumes large amounts of water and produces more greenhouse gasses than a vegetarian diet.

With Lent 2020 approaching, the Mercy Justice Team is reintroducing Mercy Meatless Mondays. Same resource, new content and look. Just as in the fall, Mercy Meatless Mondays Lent 2020 includes inspirational quotes, informational resources regarding health and the environment, and of course, recipes!

Please post photos of your meatless meals to social media using the hashtag #MercyMeatlessMondays. And sign up for more resources to help you with Earth-friendly lifestyle changes.

Thank you,

Sisters of Mercy Justice Team

1. Ash Wednesday
2. The First Station: Jesus is Condemned to Death
3. Second Station of the Cross: Jesus Takes Up His Cross
4. The Third, Seventh and Ninth Stations: Jesus Falls Three Times5.
5.  The Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His   Mother, Veronica and the Weeping Women of Jerusalem
6. The Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene Is Forced to Help Jesus Carry the Cross
7. The Tenth Station: Jesus Is Stripped of his Clothing

'Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience.” (LS 217)

There are seven Lenten Moments in the 2020 series.

Download these here:

The Blessing of Earth: Ash Wednesday

The Blessing of Wind: 1st Sunday in Lent

The Blessing of Fire: 2nd Sunday in Lent

The Blessing of Water: 3rd Sunday in Lent

The Blessing of the Night: 4th Sunday in Lent

The Blessing of the Day: 5th Sunday in Lent

The Blessing of Mother Earth: Palm Sunday

Six lessons on six themes from GSR for use in the classroom.

Find out about how CAFOD helps people in the Amazon rainforest to defend their rights.

Defend the Defenders of the Amazon