Lent 2026 is a great time to come together in action, reflect on the experiences 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 don't 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 aren't 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, we mark 15 years of Million Minutes, we are creating a million minutes of collective silence:

- a deafening noise as an act of solidarity with young people

- reflecting on and praying for young people

- raising money to help young people be 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 don't have a voice, for whom silence isn't a choice.