We think Lent 2021 is a great time to come together in action, reflect on the experiences of the past year and do something different: participate in silence.

Silence is an important part of our Christian tradition. It allows us time and space to pray, reflect and listen. When we listen rather than speak, we allow space for the voices we dont usually hear.

They say silence can also be deafening. When communities and nations stop on Remembrance Sunday each year, the two-minute silence rings loud. Imagine a normally noisy House of Commons staying silent to listen to young people. Or a Sunday homily, filled with silence for reflection on how young people are not heard. That sort of silence, that amplifies the voices that arent usually heard, can be powerful.

In the words of Pope Francis: only in the silence of prayer we can listen to the voice of God

This Lent, to mark ten years of Million Minutes, we are creating a million minutes of collective silence:

- a deafening noise as an act of solidaritywithyoung people

- reflectingonand praying for young people

- raising money to help young peoplebe the change they want to see in our world

By staying silent, you are standing in solidarity with and helping to raise money for young people who dont have a voice, for whom silence isnt a choice.