Lent is a time of prayer and fasting in preparation for Easter. This Lenten time is especially important at St. Dominic for its students and faculty alike. 

Lent is often seen as a time to give up the most difficult things you can, but that is not always the best thing to do. Many priests suggest fasting from something that draws your attention away from the outside world in order to devote more time to God during the holy time of Lent. 

“I am going to give up sweets for Lent this year,” junior Anna Burkenmeyer said.

While many people use the 40 days of fasting in Lent to remove a bad habit that draws their attention away from God, while others use it for a time of prayer to draw them closer to God. St. Dominic students use both ways to draw themselves closer to God through lent. 

“I’m doing where I start my morning off with prayer instead of my phone and then not going on social media after 6 o’clock,” junior Katarina Magill said. 

However, students are not the only ones spending their time in prayer and fasting during this Lenten time. The teachers of St. Dominic are also participating in Lenten promises. These promises range from cutting out soda to spending each and every morning in a state of prayer. 

“I am not giving up something for Lent this year, but I am going to spend at least 10-15 minutes in prayer each day,” history teacher Mr. Hammerschmidt said. 

Besides fasting from an item or devoting time in prayer, students and staff are also fasting from meat every Friday in Lent. Abstaining from meat is how we share in Jesus’ sacrifice and give our sacrifice up to God as a way to honor him.