How are students observing Lent?

During this last week of Lent, we are reminded of the Marianist values encouraging everyone in our community to lead, learn and serve through faith. This Lenten season, the University of Dayton Magazine staff wanted to see how Lent is observed differently by each student and their families.

We took to the walkways of campus and asked students about past Lenten traditions, new traditions since coming to college and what Lent means to them.

Allison Herceg: Junior, biology 

UD Magazine: Are you observing Lent this year as part of your faith?
Allison: Yes!

UD Magazine: How is observing Lent now different from when you were a kid?
Allison: It’s more meaningful and more intentional, rather than giving something up to give something up because all your friends were doing it or a parent or teacher saying you should do it. It’s more of a choice and something to be more aware of with how you live your daily life.

UD Magazine: What do you do as part of the Lent observation?
Allison: This year I decided to start praying for somebody different every day, so thinking about important people in my life or people who need prayer, instead of just randomly praying.

Ryan Hunt: Sophomore, education and history 

UD Magazine:  Are you observing Lent this year as part of your faith?
Ryan: I am a Christian, but I am not a Catholic, so I would say no, not really.

UD Magazine: How is observing Lent now different from when you were a kid?
Ryan: Typically, some people usually give something up during Lent, but I was taught you can do something nice.

UD Magazine: Have you witnessed other people observing on campus?
Ryan: People have been going to church, and they don’t eat meat on Fridays.

Rebecca Rudd: Junior, biology & pre medicine

UD Magazine:  Are you observing Lent this year as part of your faith?
Rebecca: Yes. I am Catholic, so I do it every year.

UD Magazine: How is observing Lent now different from when you were a kid?
Rebecca: I focus on it more. As a kid I would just say, “Oh, I’ll give up candy.” But I didn’t realize the significance of it. Now I actively try to do something to try to increase my faith.

UD Magazine: What do you do as part of the Lent observation?
Rebecca: I’m giving up sweets, and I am also limiting my time on social media in order to be more present in my life. 

UD Magazine: What does this season mean to you personally?
Rebecca: It’s more of a growing season — growing yourself and growing your relationship with God. It’s a combination of working on that. 

Ryan Flynn: Junior, marketing

UD Magazine: How is observing Lent now different from when you were a kid?
Ryan: I think it’s a lot different. When I was a kid, everything was my parents taking me to Mass or doing anything related to Lent. It was always kind of pressure on me, and now I have to do a lot of things on my own. 

UD Magazine: What do you do as part of your observation on campus now?
Ryan: I do the same things, like give something up for Lent. I’m trying to give up swearing — I’m trying to not swear at all.

UD Magazine: What does this season mean to you personally?
Ryan: It means giving back. I’m trying to do more charitable stuff, and I’m trying to do more service through the things I’m involved in here. I just went on a mission trip a few weeks ago ... things like that. 

Photos by Mary Kate Fleisher ’23.