Lent is a time to improve one's life through fasting, almsgiving and prayer, Regina Wilson, assistant director of Campus Ministry at Saint Mary's College, said.
In order to assist students with these tasks, Campus Ministry will be hosting Lenten Lunches each Friday from noon to 1 p.m. in the west wing of the Noble Family Dining Hall.
"Every Friday during Lent that campus is open we've got an opportunity for students to gather and to have conversation that connects them to their Lenten fasting, prayer, their almsgiving with a specifically social justice theme," Wilson said.
The lunches will provide students a chance to come together to discuss a variety of issues relevant to Catholic Social Thought. Each week a different theme will be presented for students to converse about.
"We did it last year and found that people liked the opportunity to kind of talk about the various topics that we bring and they find it enlightening and an opportunity for personal growth to share with one another," she said.
The first lunch will be held today at noon. According to Wilson, students can arrive at anytime during the lunch to participate. Wilson also said students did not have to attend every week, but to come when they could.
The first lunch will host a dialogue about fair trade. Junior Laurel Javors will lead the discussion.
"The first one is led by students, and then every other week after that we will have students from various groups on campus who will be leading," Wilson said. "We have the group the Invisible Children, Africa Faith and Justice Club and the Sisters of Nefertiti. The topics they are leading are topics that are of interest to that group."
Other topics of conversation include solidarity, presented on Feb. 26, hunger, presented on March 5, Peace Building, discussed on March 19 and HIV/AIDS, presented on March 26.
Wilson said about six to eight students are expected to attend, though she hopes that more will show interest. Wilson also said a variety of people attend the events.
"It's fun because people don't come every week so it's a different mix of people to come," Wilson said.
Wilson said students enjoy the luncheons.
"People find it enriching for their Lenten journey to share with one another," she said. "We all think of Lent as an opportunity to improve our lives and to become closer to God. I hope students will take the opportunity to realize that our journey of conversion is what Lent is about."
