Catholics around the region observe Lent
Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Rankin Inlet (Mar 28/01) - Observing Lent is truly about sacrifice.
It's about giving up things that are near and dear to you in an attempt to think more about Christ's life and the sacrifice the Bible says he made for all humanity.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts until Easter Sunday. During that time, Christians give up everything from smoking to swearing to sex to cheesecake.
Lent lasts for 40 days.
In reality, that's just slightly more than one month, but when you've given up chocolate bars, potato chips, all things from the deep-fried world and cookies, cakes and candies, 40 days looms large and long.
"It would have been good to talk to me at the beginning because I'm not living up to what I was saying," said Bernie Tutanuak of Rankin Inlet.
She is doing her best to give up sweets until April 15.
"It's hard," she said.
"Even when I'm eating my sweeties, I feel guilty. I know I shouldn't eat them. I know Lent is the time to suffer a little bit."
Tutanuak said she's still giving it her best and is trying to stay off the sweet stuff for the next three weeks. She also said two of her three children were observing Lent and doing a pretty good job of it.
"My younger girl periodically sleeps on our bed. For Lent, we suggested she doesn't go on our bed. She's still doing good," said Tutanuak. "The older one was not to chew gum and to make sure she gets up and goes to school and not be late."
For pastoral worker Fabienne Theytaz, Lent signals the dawning of Easter and is a profoundly spiritual time for her.
"For myself, Lent is something special,"said Theytaz, also from Rankin Inlet.
"Easter is about the resurrection of Christ. Lent is the special time to prepare for Easter and to think more about Christ and the sacrifice,"
Theytaz uses the season of Lent to reflect on her faith and by giving up a few things, it's her way of showing that Christ is more important to her than objects from the material world.
"I'm trying to give up candies although it's not always easy," said Theytaz.
"I'm very attached to food ... but it's good to do this. I'd like to eat this and this, but then I remember it's Lent."
Eighty-year-old Father Rogatien Papion said Lent was a personal time for him and a time he used to pray more and to help people more.
He's also using the 40-day test to shave a few items off his diet.
"I try to cut out sweets and desserts," said Papion.
The good thing to remember when the image of a KitKat bar or a deep-fried spring roll just won't leave your head is that come Easter Sunday, it's a free for all on the candy and chocolate bunnies.
That's a time Tutanuak is looking forward to.
"We have a big family and after Easter service, we all go down to Mom's and look for Easter eggs," she said.
