Fiat and Exodus Lenten Programmes for Women and Men Attract Strong Numbers
With the enthusiastic encouragement of Bishop Michael Gielen, groups of women and men throughout the diocese are engaging with two focused spiritual challenges, called Fiat and Exodus. Both programmes have three pillars: prayer, disciplines, and fraternity.
Fiat is a 40 day programme, written for women who want to experience an intentional and prayerful journey through Lent. A booklet guides participants through three core elements — daily prayer and other spiritual practices such as regular reconciliation; physical and lifestyle disciplines such as abstaining from sweet food, alcohol, and social media; and relationships with others, through a weekly meeting with other women and daily contact with a Fiat partner.
Jacinta Nicholls, who has coordinated the programme for the diocese, said, “It has been a beautiful opportunity to step back from worldly distractions and intentionally make room for God.
It is through these small sacrifices that we have more time for prayer, for meditation on the Scriptures, and for the grace to grow in the virtues of Christ and His Blessed Mother.”
Throughout the diocese, there are over 100 women participating in this Lenten journey. Some women have chosen to complete Fiat40 as an individual journey, as they fit in family and work commitments. Mrs Nicholls commented that “Most of our Christchurch parishes have a group of women participating, who have been meeting once a week together to share, pray, and encourage each other. One of the great things about this programme is that it is a flexible, personal journey. Each woman chooses the disciplines that are right for them.”
Over the past four years, a group of men have been taking part in Exodus 90 — a 90 day journey to Easter. This year, a group of around 90 men throughout the diocese have been undertaking a 40 day version, beginning on Ash Wednesday. The men meet for an hour of Eucharistic Adoration to be strengthened by our Lord, then have a group (“fraternity”) meeting. The brotherhood component sees men have a one-to-one buddy or anchor,
to strengthen and support each other as they detach from distractions, through the challenge of physical, food, drink, and media restriction disciplines.
Ramez Ailabouni, one of the men supporting the promotion of Exodus, commented on the underlying principle of Exodus, “that God called the people of Israel out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage and slavery into the desert, so that they may worship him and that he may establish a new covenant with them. That first year in the desert was a year of formation. Furthermore, Jesus went into the desert for 40 days. God is calling us out into the desert; to be with him and to detach from our addictions and distractions this Lent.”
Mike Stopforth from the Bishop’s Pastoral Office said that this Lent has been a blessed time for both our women and men.
“There has been a significant response of people participating in each programme, with the combination of extra prayer, the various disciplines, and gathering with others, having a big impact on the Lenten journey to help us draw closer to Christ.”
