Ash Wednesday was celebrated on February 14 this year, which is Valentines Day. This hasn’t happened since 1934, and it will occur again in 2029, but that will be the only other time this will happen in this century. Students were blessed with ashes from last year’s Palm Sunday Mass, keeping in alignment with Catholic faith, tradition, and teaching.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Ash Wednesday is a reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made for God’s children, but also a reminder of human mortality, and a way of acknowledging that everyone was created by God, and will one day be back with God in His Kingdom of Heaven. 

However, Lent is more than just Ash Wednesday or abstaining from eating meat on Fridays. It is a time to reflect on what Catholics are truly celebrating.  As Jessica Warnstedt ‘26 explained, “Lent means to me how as Catholics we should give something up to remind us of Jesus’ suffering.” 

Lent is also a time of reflection and what you can do with God and for God. Reagan Millbern ‘26 said, “Lent is a time to reflect on ourselves and our relationship with God as well as a time to sacrifice something just as Jesus did for us.”