To Dust You Shall Return
Ash Wednesday Through the Eyes of Campus Ministry
SUA students participate in Mass with Father Craig Irwin officiating the mass. Photo Courtesy SUA Facebook.
By Hayden Bates
March 3, 2025
TOLEDO, OH. — Ash Wednesday is a Catholic holy day that begins the Lenten season. The ashes of Ash Wednesday represent the quote from Genesis 3:19, “From dust you come, and to dust you shall return.”
Ash Wednesday is used as a reflective time as Catholics remember the sacrifices Jesus made by dying on the cross for our sins. To help students start the lenten season, a lot of preparation goes into planning the Ash Wednesday Mass.
“There are a lot of moving parts,” said Mrs. Pelz, Director of Campus Ministry at St. Ursula Academy.
The Catholic Church uses a lectionary to determine which readings are used at Mass. All other decisions are up to the SUA Campus Ministry. Mrs. Pelz credits a lot of the success of Mass to the Arrow Core Team, Dr. Greco, Mrs. Gonya and all musicians that help to make all of it possible.
The ashes used during Ash Wednesday Mass are burnt palms from Palm Sunday the year before.
“I like handing out the ashes, when I am able,” said Mrs. Pelz. “I also really take this time to reflect and grow within my faith.”
Campus Ministry also encourages students to participate and sing in the mass. As Mrs. Pelz likes to say, “God does not care what your singing voice sounds like – He just wants to hear you!”
The Lenten season is a busy time in the Catholic Church and many priests are occupied with their own parishes. In order to accommodate this, St. Ursula Academy often enlists the assistance of retired priests to preside over the Mass.
Catholics are asked to make the Lenten Season a time to reflect inwardly and grow spiritually, as well as give something up as an acknowledgement of all Jesus gave up for us.
Non-Christians are encouraged to join in on Lent by giving up something they take advantage of or a not so positive habit.
“Ash Wednesday is a time of reflection, a chance for us to remember all Jesus sacrificed for us,” said Mrs. Pelz.
Ash Wednesday will be celebrated Wednesday, March 5, 2025. All students are expected to wear their dress uniforms and come to Mass with an open mind.
