Ash Wednesday liturgy for the Jubilee of Mercy
You will need:
 a table, crucifix, candle and Bible to create a focus point
 food items, a jug of water and a large cross
 helpers to carry the above items in the procession
 ashes
 two baskets
 classical music or hymns
 a paper water droplet for each participant
 volunteers to hand out droplets as people enter
 readers
 everyone should bring a pen with them to the liturgy
To create a reflective atmosphere, you might play some music or a hymn as pupils
enter, eg. Let all who thirst come to the water, by John Foley.
Sign of the Cross
Leader: We begin our liturgy in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit.
All: Amen
Opening prayer
Reader: Loving God,
Your mercy is a spring that will never run dry,
no matter how many people draw from it.
Every time someone is in need, he or she can approach it,
because the mercy of God never ends.
Help us to experience and share your mercy this Lent,
in our prayer, in our self-denial and in our giving,
so that we can become springs of living water for a thirsty world.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Inspired by Misericordiae Vultus, (Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy), #25, Pope Francis, 2015.
All: Amen.
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Lent in the Year of Mercy
Reader: We gather on this Ash Wednesday to mark the beginning of the Christian
season of Lent.
Lent is a time when we pray, fast and give alms as we prepare to celebrate the
great feast of Easter. This year, Pope Francis has declared a Year of Mercy, so Lent
2016 is also a chance for us to reflect on the mercy of God.
For forty days, we accompany Jesus on his journey to Calvary and we see the
mercy he shows towards others, despite his suffering. Experiencing God’s mercy
towards us, like Jesus, we seek to share it with others.
This Lent, we are also making our journey alongside women and girls around the
world who, every day, spend 140 million hours collecting water for their families.
That’s time that could have been spent working or studying, relaxing or in school.
Guti’s story
Note: You may want to show the PowerPoint or video of Guti’s story
(cafod.org.uk/secondary).
Reader: Guti is 15 years old and is a student at a small school in Northern Uganda.
At her school, there used to be no clean, safe water. Pupils had to walk to the river
if they wanted water to drink or to wash. They often became ill and missed school.
Guti stays in the dormitories at school during the week, because her village is so far
away. The dormitories were dirty and very few other girls attended. Guti almost
dropped out of school herself.
Reader: But now, things have changed! CAFOD’s partners repaired the water pump
near the school. Now there is clean, safe water nearby for drinking and for washing.
CAFOD partners also provided a portable sink and soap for handwashing. They gave
teachers special training to help their pupils learn good hygiene routines for keeping
themselves clean and healthy.
Reader: A health club has been set up and Guti is one of the young leaders,
training and supporting younger pupils, especially girls, in good hygiene practices.
She says: “I feel proud to be able to help the other girls. It’s good to get more
knowledge and give advice to others.” As well as sessions in the classrooms, the
young leaders use drama and dance to get their message across.
Reader: Now, a few years later, there are 85 girls at the school and fewer pupils
have to miss school due to illness. Some girls are taking high-school exams that
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only boys took before. More and more girls are joining the school, wanting to stay
on, finish school and get good jobs.
Leader: This Lent we will remember girls like Guti around the world who miss out
on school because their community does not have access to clean, safe water, and
we will think about how we can support them.
Let’s listen to our scripture reading.
Scripture reading: Joel 2:12-13
Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.
The word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Leader: In our reading, the Lord calls us to return to him with sorrow for the ways
we have failed to act as we ought to have done. And God is always merciful, not
wishing to punish us but to love us. Joel says “rend your hearts and not your
clothing”. In other words, it’s not about how you look on the outside; it’s all about
what your heart is doing inside. God is abounding in love and wants us to have
hearts that do the same because we have experienced God’s mercy.
This Lent, CAFOD invites us to Make a Splash! to help communities around the
world gain access to clean water, so that girls like Guti can go to school and build a
better future.
We remember Guti and our sisters and brothers around the world as we continue
our service with a procession.
Procession
Helpers process to the altar or focus point with examples of the different items as
each one is read out.
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Reader: We bring food such as sweets, biscuits and crisps as a sign that we will try
to give up something to remind us that many people in the world do not have
enough food or water. What will you give up this Lent?
Reader: We bring a jug of water as a sign that we will use our talents to raise
money for people living in countries where access to water is a problem. How will
you use your talents to help others this Lent?
Reader: We bring a cross to show that we want to follow in the steps of Jesus, who
died and rose again to save us. How can you follow Jesus more closely this Lent?
Droplets and ashes
Leader: We will have a minute or two for reflection when you are invited to write on
your water droplet either your own Lenten promise or a prayer for those who have
no access to clean water.
Quiet instrumental music can be played during this time.
You’re now going to receive your ashes. Please wait in silence until you are called
forward, and take this opportunity to speak and listen to God in your heart.
After receiving the ashes, place your droplet into the basket. Afterwards they will
be added to our CAFOD Make a Splash! display as a sign that, this Lent, we
especially want to support communities to gain access to clean water.
Have a basket on each side of the ashes. Pupils line up to receive ashes on their
foreheads then place their droplet into the basket. Play quiet music to maintain the
atmosphere, eg. Song over the waters, by Marty Haugen.
Prayers of intercession
Reader: Lord, make our souls thirsty for you this Lent. Help us to make time to grow
in a real relationship with you and send us your Holy Spirit to guide us.
Lord, in your mercy,
All: Hear our prayer.
Reader: Lord, help us to be grateful for all of your gifts, especially the gift of water.
Teach us to live simply without wasting any of the resources you have given us. We
pray for the world’s leaders: that they may take steps to bring clean, safe water to
everyone in need.
Lord, in your mercy,
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All: Hear our prayer.
Reader: Lord, encourage us to pray for each other this Lent. Help us to understand
the concerns of our neighbours, both near and far, and inspire us to reach out with
mercy to all those in need.
Lord, in your mercy,
All: Hear our prayer.
Reader: Lord, be with us on our Lenten journey. Help us to know just how much you
love us and strengthen us in our desire to accompany you to your cross and
resurrection.
Lord, in your mercy,
All: Hear our prayer.
Final prayer
Leader: Lord, may these ashes
be a sign to us that our Lent has begun.
Bless us during this time of Lenten preparation.
Help us to keep our promises to fast,
motivate us to share our talents,
and guide us to pray and become closer to you.
Strengthen us so that we may grow in faith, hope and love
and be transformed ready to celebrate Easter.
All: Amen.
Leader: In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
After the liturgy, encourage everyone to leave the worship space quietly. You could
play music or sing a Taizé chant.
This Lent, your fundraising will have double the impact because we have
been awarded UK Aid Match funding for our Lent appeal. This means
the UK Government will match pound for pound every donation given to
our Lent 2016 appeal, up to a total of £3.5 million.
For more information about Make a Splash! visit cafod.org.uk/secondary
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