Lent is a special time offering us the opportunity to (re-)connect with our faith, with God and with our neighbour through almsgiving, fasting and prayer.
We invite you to join JRS on your Lenten journey this year as we are led to places of darkness and light by one of our refugee friends, share in the creativity, and deepen our understanding of God in the world.
Join JRS for a daily Lenten journey with Hassan-Ali
The Mandala images
One of the refugee friends JRS supports, Karim, has been drawing and colouring mandalas for years. He first started at the JRS Day Centre when one of our volunteers created a ‘Mandala therapy’ corner. Since the Day Centre was forced to close in March 2020, Karim has continued to colour and create Mandala-type art and imagery.
Each week, sometimes even daily, Karim shares pictures of his latest creations to the JRS Creative Arts WhatsApp group. When we asked Karim if he’d be happy for JRS to use some of the mandalas for the JRS Lenten journey resource this year, he was delighted.
Karim has said of his colouring and creating Mandalas:
“Drawing and colouring mandalas takes me away to another place, and helps me to not think about my current situation. When I’m colouring, I don’t like to be disturbed – sometimes I find my tea has even gone cold without me realising! Colouring is the only way to take my mind away from lockdown. After JRS have sent me the mandalas to colour, I have felt like my skills and drawing have improved. If you do your best for sure you will feel inspired. When you do good things, others will always surely appreciate your work”
It took a bit of logistical navigation, involving posting the original artwork to the JRS office where a team member was able to arrange for the artwork to be scanned in. Those scans have then been turned into the images and graphics that you’ll see alongside Hassan-Ali’s experience and the Lenten prayers. We hope they aid your prayer.
