With spring approaching and winter receding in Quincy, there is a time for reflection on the campus of Quincy University during Lent. For many students at Quincy, this time of year is marked by the imposition of ashes on their foreheads through church services. The Catholic Church considers Lent to be its most sacred season which lasts for 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. The background of this time period shows its importance because it reflects the events that occurred before Jesus began his ministry when he fasted in the wilderness. 

The Quincy University community uses Lent as a special time to show their dedication to the faith. The daily schedule and activities of students at Quincy University experience various changes which create important effects during the Lent period. The chapel now operates as a quiet area where students can meditate or pray after attending Mass and they can also light candles. The three core elements of Lent are prayer and fasting and almsgiving. 

Avery Mulvey is a catholic student at Quincy University and she also plays softball. During this time of the year she is super busy.

“Lent at Quincy University isn’t just about giving something up it is honestly about slowing down in the middle of a busy semester and really reflecting on who I am, what I value, and how I can grow, not just as a student, but as a person, ” Mulvey said.

The three elevated actions provide students with separate possibilities to achieve their growth and development objectives. Through prayer students receive their chance to create a stronger bond with God. Students use various prayer methods which include Mass attendance and Stations of the Cross participation and solitary time for God reflection. Fasting brings people a negative experience because they believe it only removes things from their existence.

It is also about creating space for something greater than what you currently have. Some students, for example, might choose to give up social media, or give up certain types of food. While there are examples of fasting being seen in a negative light, ultimately fasting is designed to redirect students to what really matters most in their life. In terms of looking outwards rather than inwards, almsgiving would be the third component of Lent that encourages students to take action or “do good” for others rather than focus solely on themselves. 

Father John Doctor is the Vice President of Mission and Ministry on campus and he wants all students to be aware of Lent and why we celebrate it.

“It’s my hope the students here at Quincy University also find that the season of Lent to really look at how do they need to continue to grow and improve and become more fully human and alive. In order to go forth and become a blessing and a gift to all who come into their lives,” Fr. Doctor said.

Lent can feel very familiar for those who have been doing it all their life, though for many of the non-Catholic students at QU, it can also feel something completely new. The opportunity to be part of something larger than oneself is what’s so beautiful about this experience; it’s not only a religious thing, but a communal experience that all are welcome to join in, regardless of their background. On the flip side, the challenge for many of these students as well as for most college students is learning how to balance a demanding academic schedule with time spent in personal reflection/meditation. 

It can be easy to lose track of why they are doing what they are doing. However, even this challenge brings beauty to the experience. Many students work together to support one another, and Campus Ministry interacts with the students for further support and encouragement. Thus, the students at Quincy University have a strong social bond that ties them together as they are on their individual journeys of personal development and fulfillment.