On deeper reflection, we find Ash Wednesday is so much more about death to self, and life and it brings with it a special invitation to look at our brokenness in a way that can bring healing, strength, and courage.

We can look at our own vulnerability. Our being vulnerable is to be exposed, to be open. Being vulnerable can mean giving something a go when we have no control over the outcome. For example, if someone has hurt you, and you make a conscious effort to forgive them, you have been vulnerable because you have opened yourself up to the possibility and risk of being hurt again.  Or perhaps you have asked for help with something at work or college? In that instance your vulnerability is shown in your exposing your weakness or lack of knowledge. Perhaps you have loved someone and took a chance on that person despite them not returning that love.

Life affords us many opportunities to choose to accept vulnerability but sometimes we can’t choose the kind of vulnerability we experience. Life can force situations upon us and in that moment we can be frightened, anxious and overwhelmed.  Responding to our vocation, or our thoughts and stirrings about a possible vocation, can leave us feeling vulnerable. However, our being vulnerable is not synonymous with weakness.

If Ash Wednesday reminds us less about death and more about the mystery of vulnerability in life, then does the traditional focus on repentance still make sense? Absolutely! Our repentance can be about realising we are invited to make room in our hearts and lives for a God who wants to fill up our empty spaces with goodness. Repentance isn’t all about feeling guilt and shame for our shortcomings. The word’s Latin root, paenitentia, essentially means a sense of “lacking.” Repentance, then, is an acceptance of the fact that we do not hold all the power and that we are not enough on our own. It is recognizing our vulnerability and our brokenness. The dust of Ash Wednesday reminds us that we are not in control. God is the author of our lives and He has a plan for us.

Recognising we are broken and ‘out of full control’ can mean we can need healing, so the Lenten practices of fasting, almsgiving, and prayer are not only relevant today but are perhaps more needed than ever.

It’s in giving up our reliance on those things we don’t absolutely need, giving to those in greater need than ourselves, and giving in to God’s presence in our lives that we are able to look our own “lacking” straight in the eye. It’s how we become aware of both the blessing and the brokenness of our human condition.

God is ready to heal our woundedness, to make us more whole than ever before. Ash Wednesday is our call to make room for the Divine to work within us. This makes it an ideal time to carve time for extra prayer and reflection.  If this stirs the idea of a vocation or a particular call to discipleship in you then do get in touch with us.

O loving and gracious God,

Father of all, you bless your people in every time and season

and provide for their needs through your providential care.

Your Church is continually in need of priests, sisters and brothers

to offer themselves in the service of the gospel by lives of dedicated love.

Open the hearts of your sons and daughters to listen to your call in their lives.

Give them the gift of understanding to discern your invitation to serve you and your Church.

Give them the gift of courage to follow your call.

May they have the spirit of young Samuel who found fulfilment in his life when he said to you,

"Speak Lord, for your servant is listening."

We ask this through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Perhaps you’d like to make a Lenten commitment to take 40-day self-guided programme, which will help you get into a routine of prayer and suggest other activities during this season. This is a great resource to follow:-

https://www.ukvocation.org/adventure-introduction

Seeker Saturdays; 11am-3pm, Sacred Heart Church, Fareham. PO16 ONQ

Discernment is making a decision in the light of prayer, reflection, experience and community.

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Nobody should have to make important decisions by themselves, but a Christian has been baptised into the body of Christ. Now, the Church is the tangible presence of Jesus on earth today, through the sacraments and the work of the Holy Spirit you are not left alone to make life-decisions.

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This Lent take your discernment further, and join us for our Seeker Saturday.  The next gathering is Saturday 22nd March - then 3rd May and 28th June.

Pope Francis recently reflected on the significance of discernment, "Discernment is part of life, whether at momentous times involving major decisions or in our daily decisions about small, routine matters," said Pope Francis. "Discernment is demanding and requires listening to the Lord, to oneself, and to others. It is a process that calls for 'prayer, reflection, patient expectation, and, ultimately, courage and sacrifice'." The Pope also highlighted the joy that comes from making good decisions, stressing that "making a good decision, a right decision, brings us much joy."

He urged that we especially help young people understand that "being free means risking to embark on a particular path, with wisdom and prudence of course, but also with boldness and a spirit of renunciation, in order to grow and advance in self-giving, and thus to find happiness in loving others in accordance with God’s plan."

Last year I was in Maidenhead parish for the Year of Pastoral Theology. It was a year filled with grace and the awareness of a growing capacity for compassion, pastoral care and trust in God within me. Through the varied pastoral ministry of the clergy of the parish and members of the Mill Hill Missionaries, I was integrated into various aspects of priestly ministry. Some of these included; home visits, hospitals and care home visits, sacramental preparation courses, prison ministry, schools ministry, Mission and Evangelization outreach and involvement in the Parish Pastoral Council and some parish groups such as the UCM, St. Vincent the Paul and even the weekly Badminton group. In addition, I assisted at daily Masses and also funerals, baptisms and an amazing wedding! I am grateful to the very warm and encouraging parishioners who made me feel welcome from the very start and supported me throughout the year with their prayers, edifying conversations, dinner invitations and lots of gifts. I am still humbled by their love even though I had to take a substantial break during the year to care for my terminally ill dad in Nigeria and stayed on a bit longer for the funeral.

After a slightly turbulent but grace-filled year of Pastoral Theology, I resumed formation in the new Academic year at Allen Hall Seminary last September kicking off my Theological studies. It was interesting and perhaps a bit of a relief to not only have completed Philosophical studies but also to see its relevance in my current study of Theology. The lectures so far have been really intellectually stimulating. One highlight of starting Theology studies is that I go to St. Mary’s University Twickenham on Thursdays for lectures. These classes with other students (religious and non-religious) give me a deeper appreciation of our Faith and the beauty of diversity in cultural and religious exchanges.

The main highlight of the year for me has been my admission as a candidate for Holy Orders at Allen Hall Seminary by our amiable Bishop Philip last October on the solemnity of the Douai martyrs. It was a day of much grace and joy and celebration as together with Nathan King, we renewed our commitment towards the path of priesthood and as well received the official acknowledgement by the Church of a genuine priestly vocation.

Reflecting on my vocation journey, I am filled with gratitude to the Father who loves me to bits and to His Son Jesus who calls me to this path and the Holy Spirit who continues to strengthen me through life’s challenges. I am equally thankful to Our Lady whose maternal love has been a great source of consolation for me and I would like to encourage everyone to a strong devotion to our Heavenly Mother who never abandons her children.

Finally, may I thank you for your prayers for clergy and seminarians and humbly ask that we pray for atheists, lapsed Catholics and anyone we may know who is yet to accept the Gospel of Jesus; that the Holy Spirit may enlighten their minds to accept the love of the Father through his Son Jesus Christ.”