ASHES TO ASHES
Ash Wednesday is the one day in a year when non-Catholics can recognize when the person next to them is Catholic: we all have ash crosses painted on our foreheads.

But Ash Wednesday should not only be known as the day we all get black dust smudged on our faces. It should be known as the day we remember Christ as the savior of our world by spreading the ashes of the palms of Palm Sunday on our heads, in symbolism of all of us bearing the forgiveness God bestowed on us because of Jesus's sacrifice.

Ash Wednesday begins the Roman Catholic season of Lent, which is the time of year when the Church calls us to take some extra time to examine our relationship with the Lord and our relationshizp with others. By the threefold discipline of fasting, almsgiving and works of charity, and prayer, our faith holds the Lenten season from Ash Wednesday 'til the evening of Holy Thursday.

Traditionally, Lent has been a time for "giving up" things. Sometimes, however, this "rule" is taken lightly; people find "loop holes" or don't do what thye say they'll do. Since Lent focuses on our relationship with the Lord, it makes us take a good look at our relationship with God and all of the sins we have comitted that have offended Him. The basic goal of Lent is to find ways to further our special relations with God, whether it is sacrificing activities and items we enjoy or do good deeds every day.

Some years ago Father Ryan began a simple practice of making a written commitment to something we felt would improve our relationship with the Lord and/or others. All are invited to write down on a piece of paper something they would like to do during the season of Lent; they will be keep on a table in front of the Chapel altar throughout Lent. This will be a reminder to all of us and will encourage the prayer support of our entire community.

At this year's prayer service, the Student-Body President, C Harris, talked to the entire school about this year's Lenten service projec. This project involves sending funds and medical supplies to our adopted school in Haiti. In years past, we have been able to give hundreds of dollars to this school. We hope to reach this goal this year, too..