Ash Wednesday
Readings: Ash Wednesday | USCCB
Lent: A Call to Simplicity, Solidarity, and Connection
Lent is a season of return—not just to prayer and reflection, but to the core of who we are called to be: people of love, justice, and solidarity. It is a time to pause, to strip away what distracts us, and to remember that our lives are deeply connected—to God, to one another, and to our brothers and sisters around the world.
The prophet Joel urges us: “Return to me with your whole heart.” This is not a call to empty rituals but to a transformation of the heart—one that shapes how we live and how we show up for others. The Gospel reminds us that prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are not about what we give up but about how we make space for something greater: deeper love, stronger relationships, and a renewed commitment to the common good.
Lent invites us to live more simply so that others may simply live. This is where action and solidarity come in. What does it mean to stand with our brothers and sisters—not just in thought or prayer, but in real, tangible ways?
One way we do this as a community is through CRS Rice Bowl. A small act—setting aside a few dollars from a meal, choosing to eat more simply, or being mindful of waste—becomes a moment of global solidarity. It reminds us that hunger is not just a distant issue; it is a shared reality, a challenge we face together. What we do here, in our small corner of the world, has the power to ripple outward.
In my work at the Center for the Common Good, I see how students, faculty, and staff seek to live out their values—not just in classrooms, but in communities, in giving, in advocacy, and in volunteering. Lent is an invitation to renew that commitment: to simplify our lives so that we can focus on what matters, to act with intention, and to be in deeper solidarity with those on the margins.
As we begin this Lenten season, let us take this call seriously. Let us fast not just from food, but from indifference. Let us give not just our money, but our presence. Let us pray not just for our own transformation, but for the healing of our world.
This is our time to return. To refocus. To reconnect. May this season prepare us not just for Easter, but for a renewed way of living—one rooted in simplicity, justice, and love.
Headshot of Manuela Hill-Muñoz
Manuela Hill-Muñoz
Director of Social Impact and Communications
Center for the Common Good and Office for Mission/Student Affairs
Pick up a Rice Bowl at the St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel or the Campus Ministry Office and commit to small daily sacrifices that make a big impact.
Learn more about CRS’s mission: Rice Bowl Information
Join us for a Special Event: “Eat Simply, Give Generously” Fundraiser
In collaboration with T’s Dining, faculty and staff are invited to participate in a Lenten meal of simplicity and generosity, supporting CRS Rice Bowl.
Friday, April 4, 2025, T’s Dining
Join us for a simple meal and donate $1 or more to support CRS Rice Bowl.
This event serves as a way to embody Lenten practices of fasting and almsgiving while supporting those in need.
