Marin Catholic Celebrates Ash Wednesday

The Marin Catholic community came together to celebrate Ash Wednesday which marks the first day of Lent. Lent is the season of preparation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. During Mass, the ashes, which are made by burning the blessed palms from Palm Sunday, are distributed. The distribution of ashes reminds us of our own mortality and calls us to repentance. We are called to fast and abstain during Lent; not simply as a form of penance, but also to remind us to take stock of our spiritual lives. As Lent begins, we should set specific spiritual goals we would like to reach before Easter and decide how we will pursue them—for instance, by going to daily Mass when we can and receiving the Sacrament of Confession more often.

Ash Wednesday at Marin Catholic began with a special retreat led by Monsignor Sheeran in the St. Francis Chapel. The theme of the retreat was "Finding, Experiencing God in our Daily Lives" which reflected on how we can find time for the realities that make the most difference in our lives. Following the Retreat was a beautiful all-school Ash Wednesday Mass led by the Parent Campus Ministry at Marin Catholic. MC parents participated in presenting gifts, singing, offering prayers, reading and distributing the Eucharist. Following the Mass was a Soup Luncheon where students prepared and served soup to fellow students and community members. $1,700 was raised and all proceeds will benefit Catholic Relief Services in Kenya.