Guiding Your Godchild Through Lent: Week​ 1​ – The Call​ to Repentance

A Godparent’s Role​ in Nurturing Faith

Lent​ is here, and​ as godparents,​ we have​ a beautiful responsibility​ to walk alongside our godchildren​ in their faith journey. The role​ of​ a godparent isn’t just​ a title; it’s​ a lifelong commitment​ to guiding our godchild toward Christ.​ As​ we enter this sacred season,​ we have the perfect opportunity​ to lead​ by example, deepen our own faith, and strengthen our relationship with both our godchild and their parents.

The Call​ to Repentance​ – Ash Wednesday

The Laws​ of Fasting and Abstinence

As part​ of our Lenten observance, the Church calls​ us​ to practice fasting and abstinence​ on Ash Wednesday:

• Fasting (Ages 18-59)​ –​ A Catholic​ is permitted​ to eat one full meal,​ as well​ as two smaller meals that together are not equal​ to​ a full meal.​ No snacks.

• Abstinence (Ages​ 14​ & Above)​ –​ A Catholic​ is not permitted​ to eat meat. Fish and shellfish are permitted.

Abstinence on Fridays During Lent

• All Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence from meat for Catholics aged 14 and older.

• This practice serves as a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice on Good Friday.

Why​ Do​ We Receive Ashes?

Ashes are​ a powerful symbol​ of Lent, reminding​ us​ of our mortality and need for repentance. When​ we receive ashes​ on our foreheads,​ we acknowledge:

• A Reminder​ of Our Origin from Dust​ – "Remember that you are dust, and​ to dust you shall return."

• A Sign​ of Repentance and Penance​ – Just​ as the people​ of Nineveh wore sackcloth and ashes,​ we show our desire​ to turn back​ to God.

• A Sign​ of Hope​ in God’s Mercy and Love​ – Even​ as​ we acknowledge our sins,​ we trust​ іn His forgiveness.

  
  

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning​ of Lent,​ a time​ of reflection, prayer, and spiritual renewal.​ We hear the call from the prophet Joel:

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return​ to​ me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”​ – Joel 2:12-18

This passage reminds​ us that Lent​ is about turning back​ to God. It’s​ a time​ to examine our hearts, acknowledge where we’ve strayed, and embrace the mercy​ of our loving Father.

Working with Your Godchild’s Parents

As godparents,​ we support—not replace—the role​ of the child’s parents​ in their spiritual formation. During Lent, reach out​ to your godchild’s parents and ask how you can support their family’s Lenten journey. Some ways​ to​ do this include:

• Encouraging Family Prayer​ – Suggest setting​ a special time for family prayer during Lent.

• Fostering Conversations​ – Discuss with the parents how you can reinforce what they are teaching​ at home.

• Participating​ in Lenten Activities​ – Offer​ to attend Mass, Stations​ of the Cross,​ or other parish Lenten events with your godchild.

Almsgiving Suggestion: Make Bags​ of Toiletries for​ a Homeless Shelter

As part​ of this week’s Lenten practice, encourage your godchild​ to prepare small toiletry bags​ to donate​ to a homeless shelter. This can​ be​ a simple yet powerful way​ to practice almsgiving. Gather travel-sized items like soap, toothpaste,​ a toothbrush, deodorant, and socks. Let your godchild decorate the bags with uplifting messages​ or prayers before donating them. This hands-on activity teaches them the importance​ of caring for others and sharing God’s love.

Activity Suggestion: Create​ a Repentance Journal

This week, help your godchild create​ a Repentance Journal. Provide​ a small notebook where they can reflect on:

• What they are sorry for

• How they can grow closer​ to God

• Good deeds they want​ to​ do during Lent

  
  

Encourage them​ to write​ or draw their thoughts and prayers each day.​ If they are younger, they can dictate their reflections​ to you​ or their parents.

Letting​ Go During Lent​ - Pope Francis’ Advice for Lent

Pope Francis encourages​ us​ to "Fast from sadness and​ be filled with gratitude." This reminds​ us that Lent​ is not just about giving things​ up but also about embracing joy and​ a spirit​ of thanksgiving. Teach your godchild that​ by trusting​ in God's love, they can replace sadness with hope and cultivate​ a heart​ if gratitude for the blessings​ in their life.

Lent​ is not only about sacrifice but also about letting​ go​ of the things that separate​ us from God. This season invites​ us​ to surrender what burdens our hearts and embrace what draws​ us closer​ to Christ. Encourage your godchild​ to reflect​ on these:

• Let​ go of bitterness​ – Embrace forgiveness

• Let​ go​ of jealousy​ – Embrace gratitude

• Let​ go of anger​ & hate​ – Embrace charity

• Let​ go​ of pride​ – Embrace humility

• Let​ go​ of sins​ – Embrace God

  
  

By guiding them​ to release what weighs them down,​ we help them make room for God’s grace and peace.

A Simple Lenten Prayer

In the name​ of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Heavenly Father,

As​ we begin this Lenten journey, help​ us​ to turn our hearts back​ to You. Teach​ us​ to seek Your mercy,​ to grow​ in love, and​ to walk closer​ to Jesus. May​ we​ be​ a source​ of guidance and faith for our godchildren, leading them with kindness and wisdom.

Bless our godchild and their family, that together​ we may grow​ іn holiness this season.

In the name​ of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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This​ is just the beginning​ of our six-week journey through Lent. Next week, we’ll focus​ on mercy and forgiveness, helping our godchildren understand the beauty​ of God’s love and the grace​ of reconciliation. Let’s make this​ a meaningful season for them—and for us!