Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and continues until Holy Thursday afternoon when we begin the great Triduum. The “40 days” of Lent (not including Sundays) reflect Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness. They also echo the forty day fast of Moses on Mount Sinai, the journey of the prophet Elijah to Mount Horeb (where he has a vision of God’s presence) and even the forty years of Israel’s journey through the desert toward the Promised Land.
Lent is also the time for preparation for the elect who will soon be received into the Church, who will receive the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.
Source: Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
In the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board, students and staff engage in a variety of activities to help us to live according to the practices of this season and have access to many Lenten resources.
Interested in learning more? Click here to explore Lent 2026: The Complete Guide to the Catholic Season of Lent, published by Hallow.com.