With Easter approaching next month, JC faculty and students are fully involved in the season of Lent.

On March 2, JC had their annual Ash Wednesday Mass.
In attendance was Bishop Adam Parker, the Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore. Students were able to receive ashes on their foreheads to represent repentance which comes with the 40 days of Lent.
Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent and the first day of fasting for 40 days. It is the season that occurs leading up to Easter and prepares us to celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection.
During the Lenten Season, some people may give up a material good or mindset, or they begin doing something to improve their lifestyles.
For his observation of Lent, Religion Teacher Christopher Deaver said, “Instead of giving up something, I like to add something positive to what I do, so what I have decided to do is to read through the whole gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles since that gives not just the story of Jesus’ life, but the story of the early church as well.”
Junior Hannah Hamill said, “For this Lent, I’m giving up a perfectionist mindset. I think that the thing I need to work on most this Lent is my relationship with myself. I’ve decided to work on changing my mindset about doing too many things and learning to take a day off when I need it.”
Junior Elise Robinson also shared that she is improving her mental health this Lent. She said, “I’m giving up stressing over the past and things that have already happened and focus on the present and my attitude towards life.”
While Lent is a season for repentance and bettering oneself, it is also a season for fasting in order to honor Jesus’ sacrifices, such as his 40 days of fasting in the desert, for us.
Instead of giving up a mindset or attitude, some people at JC have decided to give up material things, such as foods.
Math teacher Kristen Kirkpatrick has decided to take this route to honor the Lenten Season.
Mrs. Kirkpatrick said, “My daughter and I are giving up dessert and sweets; that’s what she chose, so I decided to do it with her.”
The Lenten Season is a sacred time in the Catholic Church to allow us to improve upon ourselves and sacrifice some of our pleasures or do things we normally don’t have time for to become closer to Christ.