Before you begin with your Lenten Plans

To all my sisters-in-Christ / Catholic girlfriends or simply girlfriends, this is for you.

I don’t care whether you’re actively serving or just a once-a-week Mass kind of girly — if you don’t know (or even if you don’t care), Lent is just around the corner.

At its heart, Lent is a season of slowing down, reflecting, and making space — for God, for honesty, for growth. It’s about noticing what needs healing, what needs letting go, and what needs a little more love. This calendar isn’t about doing Lent “right,” but about being aware of the rhythm of the Church and choosing how you want to step into it.

And if you’re wondering how to get ready, I’ve got you covered.

I created a Catholic Calendar Guide so you can see exactly what’s happening each day leading up to Lent.

This is especially for you if:

• You’re not Catholic but curious

• You’re Catholic but lowkey confused

• You want to prepare without feeling overwhelmed

Think of it as your gentle, no-pressure guide to what’s coming — so you can follow along, learn, pray, or simply be more intentional this season.

Check out the calendar I uploaded and walk this journey with me.

How to read the colours in the calendar:

Green is used for Ordinary Days.

White is for Feast Days.

Red is for Solemnities and Feasts of the Lord, martyrs, and apostles.

Purple is used for both Advent and Lent.

No colour means New Zealand public holidays.

The calendar starts in February, so you can ease into the season with clarity and intention.

Personal note from me:

I know very well that you can access this kind of information online for free, anywhere. But the joy it brings me to make it my own — to personalize it, add colors and flowers, and make it as girly as possible — makes me want to change everything I touch, to prolong their life, or simply make them more beautiful.

And I believe that in the same way, we are all already beautiful in our own way — sometimes we just need a little care, intention, and love to see it more clearly.

I’m just really happy to finally be back after two months of missing in action, creating something with my hands again, and seeing it as an act of worship 🤍 (this is what I’m made for).

And before anyone feels the pressure creeping in — this is your reminder that Lent is not a performance. You don’t need to overhaul your entire life overnight, give up everything you love, or suddenly become a spiritual expert. Small, sincere steps matter. Showing up imperfectly still counts. Grace meets you exactly where you are.

There are many ways you can use this calendar:

• You can glance at it each morning

• Use it as a conversation starter

• Pair it with your prayer journal

• Or simply let it sit on your desk as a quiet reminder of the season you’re in

There’s no wrong way to engage with it.

Creating this calendar reminded me that beauty is not extra — it’s intentional. It’s a form of care. It’s a way of saying, “This matters.” And I think our faith deserves that kind of attention, especially in seasons like Lent, where the world feels loud and rushed. Making something beautiful helps me slow down, pray with my hands, and remember why I fell in love with this in the first place.

Wherever you are right now — curious, confused, tired, hopeful — I hope this calendar meets you gently. May this season feel less overwhelming and more intentional. Less heavy, more honest. And may you discover, little by little, the beauty that’s already there 🤍

Click this link to view the PDF file.