Ashes, Almsgiving and the Call to Serve: Love in Action This Lent

Let Lent lead us into love through Catholic Charities.

Catholic Charities offers several opportunities to get involved and give back this Lent, from Fort Collins to the Denver Metro, from the Western Slope to your own neighborhood. (Photo provided)

Lent arrives every year like an invitation, quiet but impossible to ignore. The ashes on our foreheads remind us that life is brief, and love is meant to be shared widely. You may be thinking about what to give up, but Lent also asks a different question: what will you give?

This season is a perfect time to begin offering your time, talent and treasure, and to let Catholic Charities, your parish or a local Catholic school become part of your Lenten journey. Not because you have everything figured out, but because Lent is the season of returning, and returning always involves love in action.

Start with time. You can volunteer at Samaritan House, at one of five locations serving neighbors in Denver, Fort Collins and Greeley. Even one shift can become a prayer in motion, a way to meet Christ in a warm meal, a listening ear and the simple dignity of being present. You may walk in expecting to help, and leave realizing you’ve been changed. Serving at Samaritan House, Catholic Charities’ ministry for people experiencing homelessness, has a way of stripping life down to what matters most: compassion, humility and the steady choice to show up.

If you’re looking for a commitment that grows roots, consider Centro San Juan Diego. This ministry, established by Archbishop Chaput more than two decades ago and recently integrated into Catholic Charities, requires long-term volunteers to accompany newcomers as they pursue citizenship or their GED. It’s not flashy work. It’s faithful work. A few hours each week might mean helping someone practice English, study for an exam or gain the confidence to take their next brave step. In Lent, the smallest acts of perseverance can become a kind of miracle.

Then offer your talent. Catholic Charities Housing needs people who can bring their gifts to the mission, whether that’s organization, maintenance skills, hospitality, administration or simply the ability to make someone feel seen. Serving in Catholic Charities' affordable housing communities supports seniors, veterans and families who are working hard to build stability. Your talents can help create a place that feels safe, welcoming and rooted in dignity.

Lent is also a powerful time to bring your own heart to God for healing. St. Raphael Counseling, the largest Catholic therapy practice in the nation, offers a path toward wholeness when old wounds still ache beneath the surface. Maybe your Lenten journey includes reaching out for support, beginning counseling and letting Christ meet you in the places you’ve kept hidden. Healing is holy work too, and sometimes the bravest step forward is asking for help.

And consider treasure. Supporting Catholic Charities’ Marisol Health, Marisol Homes and Marisol Family helps women and families receive compassionate care, practical support and the chance to choose life with confidence and hope. A monthly gift, a one-time donation or an in-kind contribution can make a real difference for mothers and children who need a steady hand and a loving community.

You can also share treasure by supporting Catholic Charities' Little Flower Assistance Center, Senior Services or Kinship Families — those grandparents and relatives who step in to raise children when parents are unable. Loneliness is one of the quietest forms of suffering, and your generosity can help provide community, stability and support for families who are carrying more than most people will ever see.

Lent is the perfect time to pray deeply about your vocation, too. What is God asking you to do with your one precious life? For some, that question might even open the door to a career change. Catholic Charities is a place where you can live out your faith through meaningful work that serves the common good, offering not just your weekends, but your workdays, your skills and your whole heart.

This Lent, don’t just give something up. Give something back. Let prayer lead you to action and let action draw you closer to Christ as you help Catholic Charities support neighbors and transform lives.