Fordham’s Campus Ministry is celebrating Lent, the 40-day season of the Catholic calendar beginning with Ash Wednesday and concluding with the Thursday of Holy Week. Campus Ministry has planned a full schedule of programming for the season, which includes Masses for different denominations, group prayer events and Bible studies.
“Lent is one of the sacred seasons of the Church’s year,” explained Father Jose-Luis Salazar, executive director of Campus Ministry. “We speak of Lent as a 40-day ‘journey’ of renewal and purification to reach our destination, the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter. On this journey, we practice prayer, fasting and alms-giving to raise up our minds to God, restrain our faults and imitate God in charity and goodness.”
For Catholics entering the church, Lent is when many complete their Sacraments of Initiation — important rites that commemorate their entrance into the church and connect them with their wider church community.
“During the Easter Vigil, they [students completing their Sacraments of Initiation] will joyfully receive Confirmation and First Eucharist, while others will be received into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. Last Sunday, some of these students traveled to St. Patrick’s Cathedral to witness the Rite of Election of hundreds of candidates who will be baptized at Easter,” Salazar explained.
Salazar also noted that this year’s Lent is of particular importance because it precedes the Year of Jubilee. 2024 has been christened by Pope Francis as the Year of Prayer, where he encourages Catholics to pray for Christian unity and world peace.
“As it happens, 2024 is also the Year of Prayer in [preparation] for the celebration of the Jubilee Year next year,” Salazar noted. The Year of Jubilee is celebrated every 25 years. Next year’s theme is “Pilgrims of Hope” for a world suffering from the impacts of war, COVID-19 and climate change.
During Lent, Campus Ministry is holding a schedule of Masses designed to take Fordham’s Catholic community through the religious season. Sunday Masses at the University Church will go on as scheduled, at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., with Masses for Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter being held throughout Holy Week. Additionally, residence hall chapels in O’Hare Hall, Loyola Hall, Tierney Hall and Queen’s Court will continue their own weekly Masses.
Student faith groups endorsed by Campus Ministry will be meeting throughout the season as well. Christian Fellowship meets Mondays at 8:30 p.m. in Sacred Heart Chapel, and Praise and Worship meets weekly on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. in Our Lady’s Chapel.
In addition to providing spiritual programming for the Catholic community, Campus Ministry provides Masses in the Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions. It also recognizes the sacred holidays of other faiths that occur in the spring.
“It’s not only Catholics or Christians who celebrate sacred seasons around spring. Campus Ministry has also prepared a calendar ‘Celebrating Faith at Fordham.’ It has the feasts and holy days celebrated by the major faith traditions represented at Fordham to invite the community to grow in inter-religious knowledge, learning from each other’s rituals.” The calendar notes holy days specific to Islam, Judaism and Sikhism, among other religions.
More information on Campus Ministry’s Lent programming can be found on the Fordham Campus Ministry page online. Questions can be directed to [email protected].
