The Jesuit community came together to celebrate Ash Wednesday on February 18 in the Terry Center. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent for the Christian faith where students are brought together for a day of repentance and reflection. During the Concluding Rights of the mass, students were asked to come forward and get marked with ashes, representing God’s creation of humanity as born from ashes, and, how in death, the returning to ashes.
Fr. Polce’s Homily
During his homily, Father Polce, emphasized the meaning of Lent. He says that God made humanity from dust. Through death, humanity is returned back to dust. This highlights that the ultimate goal is eternal life in Heaven with God and that our actions on Earth are meant to love and serve each other because God says “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40 NABRE). Father Polce emphasized that life is beautiful, but time on earth is finite contrasted to the infinite Kingdom of God.
“You ARe Dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19) – Father John Polce, S.J
In addition, Father Polce encourages the students to stay steadfast on their Lenten promises because Christians are asked to sacrifice something during the forty-day period of Lent to grow a deeper connection with God, and to show respect for Jesus’ own ultimate sacrifice of His life on the cross for the sins of humanity. Then, Father Polce relayed the need to follow the three pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving; the three ways the Church advises Christians to grow in their faith. Lastly, he called students to repent for their sins, practice self-discipline, and show love and service towards the community. After all, the goal of Lent is to prepare our hearts to celebrate the joy of Easter.
Lenten Opportunities at Jesuit
Jesuit offers many ways for faculty and students to strengthen their faith during Lent. Opportunities are listed below:
- Daily mass at 8 A.M in the chapel
- Adoration on Monday with Father Polce, Father Tan, or Father Deutsch
- Stations of the Cross in the prayer garden on Fridays during community time
- Opportunity to join the Ignatian Solidary Network
- Confession during PRT
- Join your class’ prayer and reflection group (For example, Godly Guys ’28 which meets Fridays during community time)
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