By Alphonsa Ohol and Deepti Panpatil for BIS Mumbai

As part of the various activities planned during the holy season of Lent, the Lenten Exhibition was held on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at Sacred Heart Parish, Yerwada. The exhibition was organised by the St Dominic Savio Junior Youth Group under the guidance of their animator, Samson Tribhuwan.

The main objective of the exhibition was to create awareness about the significance of Lent and to help parishioners reflect on their faith through simple and meaningful presentations.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Fr Glen Fernandes and blessed by the Parish Priest, Fr Michael Fernandes. Both appreciated the sincere efforts taken by the youth and students in preparing informative and creative displays related to the Lenten season. They encouraged the young participants to continue taking active roles in parish activities and to use their talents in the service of the Church and society. Their presence motivated the students and youth to participate with greater enthusiasm and responsibility.

Students of Don Bosco School actively participated by explaining the meaning of different liturgical vestments used in the Church. They shared that purple vestments are worn during Lent and Advent as a sign of prayer and penance, red vestments are worn on martyrs’ feast days symbolising sacrifice and love for God, and white vestments are used during Easter and Christmas representing joy and purity. The students also explained the different weeks of Lent and their spiritual importance. The themes of sacrifice, almsgiving, penance and fasting were highlighted through charts, drawings and simple explanations.

Visitors were encouraged to practice small acts of kindness, self-control and charity in their daily lives during the Lenten season.

A special section of the exhibition focused on the Biblical episode of the Samaritan woman, highlighting the message that Jesus is the Living Water who quenches the spiritual thirst of all who come to Him. The students explained this story in a simple manner so that even young children could understand the deeper meaning of trusting in Jesus and turning to Him for guidance. This section attracted many visitors and helped them reflect on the importance of faith, prayer, and conversion during Lent.

Young Ethan Wakode said that the exhibition helped him understand the meaning of Lent better and encouraged him to practise small sacrifices in daily life

A parishioner expressed that the exhibition was well organised and spiritually enriching, especially for children, as it explained Church traditions in a simple and meaningful way.

The Lenten Exhibition was informative, well-presented and thoughtfully organised. It helped parishioners prepare their hearts in a better way to observe the holy season of Lent with prayer, reflection and renewed commitment to living out Christian values in everyday life.