From the quiet pews of the Chapel of the Most Holy Rosary to the busy hallways of Aquinas Hall, the Mount Saint Mary College community gathered Wednesday, February 18, to mark the start of the Lenten season.
Fr. Gregoire Fluet, Vice President for Mission and Ministry and campus chaplain, led the campus-wide distribution of ashes and multiple Masses, inviting students, faculty, and staff to enter into a season of prayer and renewal.
This year’s observance highlighted the unique bond the Mount shares with Bishop Dunn Memorial School. The children of Bishop Dunn joined Mount students to receive ashes, representing a shared tradition of faith.
Ash Wednesday “is a time of renewal in Jesus and the certainty of His grace,” said Fr. Fluet. “It is a time of personal reflection and personal growth, welcoming all people of good will to join in this special season. It is a time to turn away from the things that keep us from becoming who we want to be and who God wants us to be."
The distribution of ashes continued throughout the day in various campus locations, ensuring that even those with the busiest academic schedules could participate in the start of the 40-day journey toward Easter.