Prayer
You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.
John 13:13-15

God of goodness and compassion, give me a listening ear to hear your message and a loving heart, that in everything I do I may reflect your love to all people I meet. I pray this through Jesus Christ, in union with the Holy Spirit, amen.

Pray for all mothers struggling to provide for their families.

Fasting
So many of the young mothers with whom our Sisters work with have experienced violence in their lives. They have been demoralized and their self-esteem has been whittled away to nothing. How often are you exposed to violent images, words, actions? Can you fast from:
† watching violent and demorlizing TV shows and movies?
† listening to violent music?
† playing violent video games?
† using violent words and actions?
Use the time you save to build up people, to educate yourself about the needs and programs for teaching life skills in your own community.

Give Alms
Do you have books or magazines you could donate to an adult education program? Can you donate time to tutor someone?

Lent is a season when we focus on almsgiving. Perhaps you might consider tithing a portion of your allowance or income to continue to change lives? Here are some examples of how your tithe can help teach life skills:

Help us change lives through teaching young women life skills in Brazil, Congo, Nigeria, Peru, South Africa and the United States.

Our foundress, Saint Julie Billiart, knew the importance of educating mothers. In the wake of the French Revolution she worked to provide women with skills to make a healthy living. Our sisters continue to educate mothers today.

Young mothers caught in poverty know the value of education. World-wide, they suffer the heartbreak of leaving their children in the care of others so they can learn skills to support their families.

In Nselo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sister Solange prepares young women to pass their exams and teaches them vocational skills. The domitory is not large enough to hold all the mothers coming for the program. There are three and four students per sewing machine. You can help us expand this program that is working to build better futures for families.

Loutété is in a rual area 250 kilometers east of Brazzaville, the Capitol of the Republic of Congo. This area was torn apart by civil wars in 1993, 1997 and 1998. The economic and social structures were destroyed. Schools were closed. Many were killed, many more orphaned. Those that survived in the area were left totally impoverished, forcing young mothers to turn to prostitution as a means of supporting their children.

Our Sisters have created a center to educate and train these young mothers. Sister Helene and her co-workers work to give these women skills in sewing and tailoring that will enable them to support their families and live out their dignity as loved children of God. They have more participants than they have materials. They need more sewing machines, thread, scissors...the list goes on. You can help expand both of these programs.

Thank you for journeying with us during Lent. Let us continue to pray for each other as we move into our celebration of Easter.
May our good God bless you!