Moments at the Mount: Lent in focus at The Mount

The Church has once again entered the liturgical season of Lent. It is a time of fasting, almsgiving, and prayer as everyone prepares their hearts for the Passion, death and Resurrection of Christ. This preparation takes many different forms at The Mount.

On Ash Wednesday, The Mount community was blessed to celebrate Mass with Most Reverend Archbishop Paul Coakley. He spoke in his homily of how Lent is a time for everyone to prepare their hearts to be more like Jesus. The archbishop also said that during Lent, people can’t just do one or two of the practices. To fully participate in Lent, everyone must pray, fast and give alms.

Kathleen Bertels and her peer ministry class designed a Lenten bingo to draw people into the chapel and into closer relation with God. Some of the squares include attending morning prayer in the chapel, leading class in prayer, spending 30 minutes in Adoration and other individual activities.

Along with this bingo, Bertels put together a Lenten Bible Study during lunches. One is led by math teacher Kathryn Pickens, the other by junior theology teacher Kim Dandurand. This will be a time of prayer and reflection and an opportunity for students to walk through Lent together.

Some students and staff were asked the question “What does Lent mean to you?”

Math teacher Mark Woodward said that Lent is like a spiritual bootcamp and a time for people to re-train and re-strengthen themselves to do battle against sin.

“The 40 days are supposed to be a challenge,” Woodward said, “One that we do not succeed on our own accord but with God's grace.

“The three practices of fasting, almsgiving and prayer unite us with Jesus during his Three Temptations in the desert where he sets things right for us. And in the end, Lent is a spiritual cleansing to make us more open to receive the grace and gifts of Easter.”

Sophomore Ella Still described Lent as a time of recentering.

“Lent is the perfect time to refocus and rediscover who I truly am at the most basic part of myself and prepare my best self for when Jesus rises on Easter,” Still said.

She added that life can get so busy and it’s easy to lose track of what really matters. Lent gives Still the time to focus on Jesus and his blessings in her life.

This Lent, The Mount community will walk through one section of the Litany of Humility a week. Bertels describes this prayer as one that allows people to not think less of themselves, but allows them freedom.

Through prayer, Bible studies, and a fun bingo, The Mount will walk through the journey of Lent together. It will give all the time to recenter their lives and focus on the one who truly matters.

Lent isn’t about what students can give up, but what students can do to be more like Christ and shine his light throughout the community.


Photo: Archbishop Paul Coakley gave ashes to senior Ivan Borgert during the Ash Wednesday Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Photo Ani Vazquez.