Santa Maria Sun / School Scene

The Lenten season begins at St. Mary's

Ash Wednesday Mass at St. Mary of the Assumption School brought school and community together to celebrate the beginning of Lent on Feb. 13.

ASHED Friar Paul O’Donnell marked a cross on Vanneza Sevilla’s forehead with ash, while Sienna Macedo returned to class after the Ash Wednesday Mass Feb. 13 at St. Mary of the Assumption School. PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. MARY OF THE ASSUMPTION SCHOOL

“Fully participating in our faith and attending Ash Wednesday Mass is one of the many unique opportunities we experience,” St. Mary’s school principal Michelle Cox said in a press release. “We live and teach our faith everyday.”

Ash Wednesday starts the 40-day period of Lent, which is a fasting period that leads up to Easter. The fast is usually marked by giving up a luxury, such as red meat or cheese.

Students read from the New Testament, and the school choir—made up of fourth- through seventh-grade students—led the congregation in songs. Friar Paul O’Donnell distributed ash to the foreheads of 250 students before they returned to the rest of their classes.