For those who may not know or are not familiar with the tradition, Ash Wednesday is the first day of fasting that begins the season of Lent. For 40 days, Christians and Catholics fast from eating meat on Fridays, focusing on refining their prayer, fasting, and almsgiving practices.
Ash Wednesday is a day of reflection for all Catholics and Christians to contemplate how they want to prepare for the coming of Jesus. By the ashes spread across an individual’s forehead in the shape of a cross, the marking of a season of meditation begins.
To start off this Lenten season, Cathedral High School transformed its gym into a Mass ceremony to host the beginning of the 2025 Lenten season. The entire Cathedral family came together after the Alpha period, receiving blessed ashes from any teacher in the religion department.
One teacher in particular, Mrs. Karrie Quenichet, religion educator and Girls Head Volleyball Coach, said that “Ash Wednesday reminds us to be present to God as He is always present and waiting for us in the sacraments.”
Quenichet believes Ash Wednesday is “a wonderful time to reconnect and reflect upon our role in our relationship with God”. By contributing to the distribution of the ashes this past Wednesday morning, Quenichet and the other religion teachers have started off their Lenten season strong!
Quenichet also said, “The Lenten season continues to allow us to reconnect with God while taking a closer look at the example Jesus gave us with his time on Earth”. Quenichet uses the Lenten season to personally deeply reflect on the message and sacrifice of Jesus. “I feel that every year Lent brings a whole message to me, it always seemed to be the exact message I have needed at that time in my life.”
Quenichet related personally to the New Year’s resolution mentioned at the homily of the all-school Mass. Father Jomy went on to describe how the Lenten season goes beyond the simple engagement of prayer, the purpose/benefits of fasting, and the understanding of the need to take care of our brothers and sisters.
Cathedral High School is known for encouraging student participation in its liturgical celebrations, and Ash Wednesday was no exception. As per usual, students dress up in formal tuxedos and lovely dresses to participate in this Ash Wednesday Mass celebration like any other.
One sophomore, Abigail Eldridge, has been an active participant in school Masses, despite the nerves that come with speaking before her peers. On March 5, during the Ash Wednesday Mass, Eldridge took to the altar to read the petitions, contributing to the communal spirit of the service. Eldridge said, “I enjoy the whole experience of participating in the school Masses.” Eldridge said, “I grew up Catholic, so participating at all-school Masses seemed normal for me, even though it is a bit nerve racking because I speak in front of my entire class and school.”
