Viking Catholic

What is Ash Wednesday?

Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent. Lent is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting and giving that Catholics and some Christians observe. It is a time of repentance and closeness to God in preparation for Easter.

On this special day of reflection, Catholics wear ashes in the shape of a cross on their foreheads. The ashes symbolize our mortality – “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” The ashes are also symbolic of sorrow and repentance for our sins.

We have all failed to love God and others as we should. Lent provides an opportunity to reflect, pray and repent for our sins. In doing so, many people make sacrifices or commit to life changes throughout the 40 days of Lent. It’s a time for spiritual fasting that helps us cleanse our souls, renew our faith, and grow closer to God.

During Mass on Ash Wednesday, priests will place a cross made of ashes on our foreheads. You do not need to be Catholic to receive ashes—people of all faiths are welcome to participate

Meet Steven! He is a senior at WWU studying Philosophy! His favorite Saint is Saint Joseph and he has a strong devotion to the Holy Family. Steven's favorite food is a medium rare T-bone steak specifically charcoal grilled! Fun fact Steven plays for the men's rugby team at WWU!Steven's goal is to spread joy among the students of Western this year!

Meet Brooklynn! She is a senior studying Business Marketing! Her favorite Saint is Saint Thérèse of Lisieux! Her favorite food is pasta, and she loves every form! Fun fact she has done dance for 15 years now! Her goal this year is to create a welcoming community for the women of WWU!

Meet Joey!! He was raised in Shoreline Washington and is studying auto mechanics at BTC! When asked what his favorite Saint was he couldn't just choose one! His top three favorite saints are Saint John Paul II, Saint Joseph, and Saint Padre Pio! His favorite food is pasta especially with a rich meat sauce! Fun fact, Joey has 8 siblings and when he was growing up his family had a 12-seater Chevy called the Fesal-bus! Joey's goal this year is to keep the students of both WWU and the colleges around Whatcom in his prayers as the year continues!