
Although the Christmas season of giving is firmly behind us, the season of going without is now here.
Staff and students at Luther College and Campion College at the University of Regina are uniting in preparation for the season of Lent. Although they are distinct in their denominations of Christianity — Luther being Lutheran and Campion being Catholic — March 5 marks the beginning of the Lenten observational period for all members of the Christian faith.
Lent is a time of preparation for the celebration of Easter. It lasts 40 days—excluding Sundays—and ends on what is known as “Holy Saturday” before Easter Sunday.
Sean Bell is a Lutheran chaplain at Luther College, and he says the way Lent is practiced by Lutherans and Catholics is very similar. Both put emphasis on three main pillars of service: fasting, almsgiving and prayer. As far as any small differences between them go, Bell says they are embraced with open arms.
“I run a multi-faith peer-chaplaincy,” Bell said “We’re open to all faith expressions. Chaplaincy has nothing to do with convincing you to be someone you’re not. It has everything to do with listening deeply, bringing ideas together and exploring them. Some of the most interesting conversations are when people of different faiths come together.”
Bell stresses that for both Christian denominations, Lent is not just about physically fasting from food. It can also be fasting from actions and mindsets that affect one’s life negatively. It encourages the undertaking of healthier habits that promote a balance between self-care and selflessness.
“One year I gave up shame,” said Bell. “That was hard. Every time I used the word ‘should’ on myself, I was creating shame. I decided I would never do anything just because I ‘should’ do it. It had to be a decision to actually do it. It became a mental exercise of controlling my own existence.”
Dina Tremblay, a second-year biology student at Campion College, says she likes how Lent grounds her in recognizing what she believes Jesus has done for her, referring to the Christian belief that He was crucified and resurrected.
“I’ve been thinking about fasting from TV this year,” Tremblay said. “Instead, I can use that time to learn more about my faith.”
She says that Lent is unique in the way it encourages participation rather than just traditional observation.
“If you participate, it can be really transformative,” said Tremblay. “Lent helps you realize how distracted you have been. You come to see yourself, see your flaws, see your needs and see all your desires in a different light.”
This year, Luther’s observation of Lent has a specific theme: “Calming Centre.” According to its flyer, the events will attempt to “explore spiritual ways of finding and knowing peace.”
“This is a stressful time for students with midterms going on,” Bell said. “The amount of anxiety and depression on campus at any time could be as high as 25-30 per cent.”
Because Lent spans close to six weeks, this year Easter will fall in the middle of the final examinations period for students at both the colleges and the main University of Regina campus. Bell believes that the worship events will help students find a sense of calmness during this chaotic period.
The events will include self-reflection talks entitled, “Being and Doing,” “Living Within,” “Sharing the Demons Out,” and “Pathways”.
Even if not for religious fulfillment, Bell encourages students to come to these events so as to broaden their worldviews.
“University is all about becoming something new,” he said. “If you come out of university as the same person you were when you walked in, something was missed. The chaplain is here to support everyone while they grow.”