Living Youth Lent 2021

Pilgrimage to Your Parish (Easter Week)

Easter Week (Mon 5th - Sun 11th April)

Visit your Local Church to say a prayer in celebration of Jesus rising on Easter Sunday.

Ages 11 - 18

Go with your family to make an Easter Celebration visit to your local Church (inside or outside). Take time to pray as a family and see if the Holy Oils from the Mass of Chrism are on display (please note all Churches may not display them publicly). Celebrate the Feast of Easter - as a family stop for a treat on the way home.

Praying for Our Church (Mass of Chrism)

Week 7 (Mon 29th - Thurs 1st April)

Pray for those who will be receiving the Sacraments from the Blessed oils in the upcoming Year.

Ages 11 - 18

Fill in the Online Form and let us know who you will be praying for (before 2pm on Wednesday 31st March). These will be used during the Mass of Chrism and brought forward with the Oils to be Blessed by Bishop Noel Treanor.

The Mass of Chrism is available to watch live on Thursday 1st April at 11am on www.churchservices.tv/stpeterscathedral or Living Youth will be posting an individual video of Bishop Noel blessing the oils.

Form available at https://forms.gle/nCSfVGBmRcmaUvNh7 

Almsgiving to a Foodbank

Week 6 (Mon 22nd - Sun 28th March)

Donate food or toiletries to a local foodbank or charity. Alternatively, you can go to the ‘Get Involved’ section at www.marysmeals.org.uk for ways you can find out more and help Mary’s Meals.

Ages 11 - 18

Find below links for local foodbanks across NI or check if your Parish is currently collecting for foodbanks over lent.

• www.northernirelanddebt.co.uk/articles/cost-of-living/nearest-foodbanks-in-northern-ireland

• www.cabfoodbanksuu.wordpress.com/list-of-food-banks/

Praying with Your Parish

Week 5 (Mon 15th - Sun 21st March)

With your family, join your Parish or Pastoral Community Lenten Prayer Service.

Ages 11 - 18 

These Lenten Services will be delivered by Parishes across the Diocese of Down & Connor with times and days outlined below.

Please Click the Parish Below to bring you to their web streaming pages.

• Coleraine

• Dunloy & Cloughmills Thursdays at 7pm

• Holy Family Parish Sundays at 7pm

• Newtonards and Comber Wednesday at 7pm

• Parish of Maghera, Newcastle Wednesday at 7.30pm

• Parish of Kilmegan at Castlewellan and Aughlisnafin

• Portaferry Tuesdays at 7pm

• St Anne’s Parish, Belfast Mondays at 7.30pm

• St Bernadette’s & Holy Rosary Parishes, Belfast Pre Recorded and available at anytime on YouTube

• St Mac Nissis Parish, Larne

• St Oliver Plunkett Parish, Belfast  Fridays at 7pm

• St Peter's Cathedral, Belfast Mondays at 7pm

• Castlederg & Ardstraw West (Derry Diocese) Fridays at 7.30pm

Digital Fasting for Mother’s Day

Week 4 (Mon 8th - Sun 14th March)

Organise an activity for Mother’s Day with your mother and family, and make it digital free.

Ages 11 - 18

Leave your phones aside while spending some time with your mother and family:

• Attend Mass together as a family online

• Organise a walk at a park

• Cook a meal/dessert together

• Play a game or boardgame together

• Do some art together – Music, Drawing, Sculpting, Creating

• Breakfast in Bed

• Visit Grandparents

• Treat your mum to a nice coffee or ice cream

• Clean the House

• Create a handmade card

Social Awareness with Habitat for Humanity

Week 3 (Mon 1st - Sun 7th March)

Complete the Habitat for Humanity Online Escape Room (1.5 - 2 Hours) and travel the world, without leaving your home, in this new online escape room. Take part in fun games and exciting challenges, as you learn more about global development and Habitat’s work with the most vulnerable.

In completing the Escape Room, we hope that you will learn more about why housing is vital in breaking the cycle of poverty and helping to drive the sustainable development goals. We challenge you in giving of your time or money to help break this cycle.

Ages 11 - 14

• With a parent or older sibling complete together the Habitat for Humanity, Online Escape Room at www.habitatni.co.uk/escaperoom

Ages 15 - 18

• Join with friends online to complete together the Habitat for Humanity, Online Escape Room at www.habitatni.co.uk/escaperoom

Mental Wellbeing with the 4 Corners Festival

Week 2 (Mon 22nd - Sun 28th Feb)

‘Catch Your Breath’ with Jim & Paula from Living Church as they explore some top tips for building resilience, how to realise how good we are and how to stay well.

Ages 11 - 14

• Find above the link to the 15-minute video for P7+ aged children and accompanying workbook available at www.4cornersfestival.com/catchyourbreath/

Ages 15 - 18

• Watch the 15-minute video above for those aged 15-18 and the accompanying workbook available via the link above and at www.4cornersfestival.com/catchyourbreath/ 

Fasting from Consumerism

Week 1 (Wed 17th - Sun 21st Feb)

Come up with 3 things that you will commit to consume less of or commit to using for longer.

Ages 11 – 14

Complete the worksheet to commit to 3 different things.

• What items can you use until they are finished, instead of asking for new ones just because other people have? Sports Gear, Technology, Clothes

• How can you not rely on your parents/guardians for lifts as much?

• Reduce consuming Social Media, WhatApp etc.

Year 11 – 14

Use www.futureme.org to send yourself 3 reminder emails in the future about what you have committed to.

• Mobiles & Devices – Don’t upgrade your phone or other device just because you can. Make a commitment to keep your devices for longer periods.

• Clothing & Shoes – Wear your clothing until they need to be changed, rather than just wanting something new. Why not use Charity Shops for purchasing new and donating your old clothes?

• Use Less – Can you walk/cycle one extra time a week or reduce using disposable food & drinks containers?