The Diocese of Winona-Rochester recently reminded its parishioners that Lent starts in less than a week and encouraged them to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, which occurs March 2 of this year and will finish Saturday, April 17, with the Easter Vigil Mass, according to a Woman's Day report.

"This time of year, we are invited to reflect and challenge ourselves in our faith," the Diocese of Winona-Rochester stated on Facebook. "One of the things you might challenge yourself to do this Lent is go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, also known as Confession, more often, or maybe for the first time in many years."

Lent, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), is a time of penitential preparation for Easter, which celebrates Jesus Christ's resurrection.

"During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture," the USCCB stated on its website, "We serve by giving alms and we practice self-control through fasting; we are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully."

While Catholics traditionally abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, the USCCB also states that Christians are challenged to exercise other forms of self-discipline.

The USCCB further suggests that Catholics expand their concept of "almsgiving" to encompass sharing their time and skills.

Additionally, the USCCB describes confession as a means of mending a damaged relationship with God caused by sin.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation provides an opportunity for Catholics to confess and repent of their sins in order to be forgiven.