Marked By the Cross, Nourished by the Eucharist

Lent is a sacred season in the life of the Church, but in a Catholic school community, it becomes something even more formative. It becomes a lived experience. Lent is not simply marked on a calendar, it is woven into the daily prayers, classroom lessons, and the spiritual growth of every child each day. For students and faculty, this season is an invitation to encounter Jesus more deeply and to understand the profound gift of the Holy Eucharist as His true presence, not just a symbol, but Jesus Christ Himself.

Lent began in a powerful way this year as Fr. Michael gatherd the entire school community for Ash Wednesday Mass. With warmth and clarity, he spoke directly to the children, helping them understand that the ashes placed on their foreheads was not just a tradition, but a visable sign of an inward committment. He explained that when we receive ashes, we are saying "yes" to Jesus. Yes to changing our hearts, yes to loving others better, and yes to preparing ourselves to walk with Him.

As Fr. Michael traced the sign of the cross on each child's forehead, he spoke the words, " Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return". These words based from Genesis 3:19 emphasize repentance, and the call to spiritaul reflection but also to remember that our time here is short, and what we do in this time matters deeply. The act of placing ashes on each child's head makes a profound impact and is a tangible remider to everyone that faith is personal. Jesus calls each of his children by name. The ashes symbolize repentance, but they also mark the beginning of a journey. A journey for the next forty days towards a deeper union with Christ in the Eucharist.

In a Catholic school like St. Therese, Lent is intentionally connected to the heart of our faith; the Eucharist. The Church teaches that during the Mass, bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Christ. This teaching affirms that Jesus is fully and truly present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Eucharist. It is not a metaphore, it is not a reminder, but rather is the Real Presence.

Fr. Michael reinforced this truth in his homily, helping children see the connection between the cross and the alter. He explained that the same Jesus who suffered and died for us is the Jesus who gives Himself to us at every Mass. Because of this, Lent is not just about giving things up, it's about preparing our hearts to receive Him more worthily. His words invited students and faculty to see the Eucharist not as routine, but as a sacred encounter.

Throughout Lent, the students at St. Therese practice prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. They participate in the Stations of the Cross, engage in acts of service, and make small sacrafices with joyful hearts. These practices are not empty rituals. They teach children self discipline, compassion, and attentiveness to God's voice. More importantly, they remind them to create space in their hearts, that only can be filled by Christ Himself.

The impact this Lenten mass has on students in their spiritual lives is profound. When children understand that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist, their reverence grows. They genuflect with intention, not just because they have been taught it. They kneel in quiet prayer, not just because we have been shown it. They approach Holy Communion with graitude and awe, because they know who they are approaching, Jesus Christ. Lent helps them to recognize that what happens at the alter is not symbolic storytelling, but the living reality of Christ's sacrafice made present.

At St. Therese, Lent is a season of transformation for everyone. Fr. Michael's celebration of Ash Wednesday sets the tone, reminding everyone that they are marked by Christ and called to holiness.

As we journey through Lent together, we invite our families and parish community to lean more deeply into the grace of this sacred season for the next 40 days. Join us at Mass, spend time in Eucharistic adoration, and speak with your children about what it means to believe that Jesus is truly present in the Holy Eucharist. Let this Lent not simply be about giving something up, but about drawing closer to Christ. May we, as a community of faith at St. Therese continue to form our children to recognize, love, and receive Jesus with reverence, knowing that He is not a symbol, but our living Lord.

Ashes set on the table for Ash Wednesday Mass at The Shrine of St. Therese