In his Lenten message this year, Pope Leo invited Catholics worldwide to use this period of Lent to listen, fast and come together as a community in Christ. Pope Leo says, “Dear friends, let us ask for the grace of a Lent that leads us to greater attentiveness to God and to the least among us. Let us ask for the strength that comes from the type of fasting that also extends to our use of language, so that hurtful words may diminish and give way to a greater space for the voice of others.”
This is what your support of Chalice does every day. You are part of the community of support that helps the needy feel loved, seen and heard. You help them live in dignity and encourage them to give back to their own communities however they can.
At the Mikinduri site in Kenya they hosted a workshop for 114 high school students – Striving for success in life and studies, where five sponsored students in university shared their experiences, challenges and successes offering guidance and motivation to the younger students, through open discussions, storytelling and interactive sessions.
The goal of the session was to inspire hope, promote academic commitment and provide practical advice on how to navigate school life and prepare for higher education.
The speakers asked all the students to reflect on where they come from. They highlighted that understanding their own background is not just about knowing the past, but about recognizing how it affects motivation, learning styles, communication and achievement of their goals. By the end of the session, students gained deeper appreciation for their unique paths and learned how their background can be a source of strength and pride in their educational journey.
“Lent is a time in which the Church, guided by a sense of maternal care, invites us to place the mystery of God back in the center of our lives, in order to find renewal in our faith and keep our hearts from being consumed by the anxieties and distractions of daily life,” said Pope Leo. Even though this particular event didn’t happen during Lent it was a time of communal learning where the university students explained to the youth that they can use their faith as a source of inspiration to keep working hard to reach their goals.
The students were lively during the session. One student said, “The presenters did well. I am determined to use the knowledge shared to make better choices, work hard and build a brighter future for myself and my family. Thank you Chalice for the great opportunity.”
You can join us this Lenten season by requesting a PDF copy of our Lent companion and/or signing up to receive our weekly Lent emails with extra content.