St. Thomas met as a campus community with the traditional Ash Wednesday Mass to mark the solumn beginning of the Church’s Lenten season, the penitential period before Easter observed as a time of prayer and penance in reparation for one’s sins.

President Fr. James Murphy, CSB presided over the Eucharistic celebration and the blessing and imposition of ashes in Cemo Auditorium. He reflected on Jesus’ words in the Gospel of Matthew: “When you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.” Fr. Murphy emphasized that the 40-day journey through Lent is a prime opportunity to examine ourselves in the light of truth, to let go of distractions, habits, and appetites that prevent our improving personal relationships with God and others.

Lent is historically a time of fasting, abstinence, and almsgiving, a closeness to God in preparation for the Lord’s passion and death during Holy Week and culminating with His resurrection on Easter Sunday.  The Church believes that sacrifice and repentance prepare the heart to receive the reconciliation that Christ offers, a season of grace with an inward examination of our true selves and to share our deepest desires, worries, and weaknesses with the Lord in prayer.

Lent is a reminder that life on earth is transitory. The true citizenship resides in heaven. For the next 40 days, the focus must be fixed on eternal destiny. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.

Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world

Catholic. Basilian. Teaching Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge since 1900.