New book by Archdiocesan sister guides Catholics through Lent
How do we have a “good” Lent? For many Catholics, simply giving something up isn’t the answer. After all, Lent is a season of reflection when we discern where we are on our spiritual journey and take action to move in a better direction. But what does this entail and how can we accomplish this?
Sister Donna L. Ciangio, O.P., chancellor of the Archdiocese of Newark and an expert on small group faith formation, has co-authored a book designed to guide parishioners through Lent together. “Open Our Hearts,” published by Renew International, is a week-by-week, day-by-day Lenten resource for small groups that want grow in faith together throughout Lent. The book looks at how parishioners can live out their faith at home, in their parish, and in the world over the 40-day season. It also connects the faithful on a deeper level with the Sunday gospels, with daily prayers and reflections designed to enrich each Lenten Mass.
What to expect from the book?
“The choice is ours to make time for Lent,” Sister Donna Ciangio said. “Open Our Hearts” guides parishioners through Lent by helping them make the time on a weekly and daily basis.
Part One of the book is structured for six weekly small-group meetings, encouraging participants to walk with each other in Lent. The book begins the week of Ash Wednesday with reflections that anticipate the coming Sunday of Lent to help group members prepare for hearing the Word of God.
In those small groups, parishioners listen and appreciate the Word of God, connect the Word to their lives, and reflect on faith life, parish life, and home life. They then discuss how they can affect the world during that specific week of Lent. Through listening and experiencing their faith together, parishioners can see how the Word of God touches every part of their life during Lent.
Part Two of the book contains a Lenten reflection and prayer for every weekday of Lent, designed to help group members stay focused between meetings.
Why should we gather in small groups for Lent?
One of the biggest takeaways from the Synod is that people want a deeper relationship with Christ, but they don’t know how to get there, said Sister Donna Ciangio, who is also a coordinator for the synodal process in the Archdiocese of Newark. Small group faith formation is key to helping parishioners make that connection.
“With the small group and what we try to do with looking at the Scriptures is to really provide that opportunity [to deepen that relationship]… we need a place where we can gather, where we feel safe and where we walk with each other,” she said.
An important aspect of small group faith formation is accompaniment — uplifting and emboldening one another, and listening and learning from each other. Small groups imbue a sense of participation in church life that otherwise isn’t present in living a more isolated faith journey. Small group faith formation also reflects the heart of the mission of Christ and of the Church overall.
“It’s not just about who is leading the parish or who is leading the particular ministry, but it is all of us together forming it,” she said.
Open Our Hearts is available for purchase in English and Spanish at renewintl.org/lent.
