After attending this week’s Ash Wednesday Liturgy, many CCHS students will continue on with their daily lives as normal. However, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent; the prelude to the single most important holiday in the Catholic religion.
Father Brian Kelly, the school’s Chaplain, says “Lent is one of the five Liturgical seasons in the Church’s year. Every season focuses on the Pascal Mystery – our belief in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Each season focuses on a different aspect of God’s gift of Salvation for us. Lent is here to help us deepen our relationship with Christ so that we can better celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection”.
Many students give up something they enjoy for Lent, such as chocolate, or resolve to something beneficial, such as getting in shape. “This season gives us the opportunity to recognize where our human failures are – areas where we need to have a stronger discipline in our lives so that will reflect the Gospel message better” said Fr. Kelly.
As advice to what people should do during Lent, he said, “Whatever you’re going to do in prayer, fasting, or almsgiving, keep yourselves strong in that discipline for 40 days to see if there will be a change.”
During the course of the Lenten season, all religion classes will be attending a Penance service over a two-day period of time. It will take place in the chapel, with visiting priests who will perform the sacrament. Zero period religion classes will not be left out and will have a separate opportunity to attend the Penance service.
When asked what students should think about before they receive Penance, Fr. Kelly said, “We should focus on repentance and contrition; to be sorrowful for our past actions, behaviors, or decisions is a part of the spiritual preparation to recognize the joy of what Easter will be”.