As Christians worldwide observed Ash Wednesday, many in the Fordham community paired traditional Lenten sacrifice with renewed commitments to service. For them, it’s not just about giving up, it’s also about giving back.
Two Sides of the Same Coin
During Lent, the 40-day period that begins with Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday, Catholics prepare to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. The Catholic Church encourages people to pray, fast, and embrace almsgiving, which includes acts of service.
Traditionally, many Catholics have focused on abstaining from certain things during this period, such as chocolate or electronics. Philip Judge, SJ, executive director of campus ministry, said sacrificing in this manner for Lent is still encouraged. But he also encouraged Christians to consider acts of service and intentional acts of connection with people during Lent.
He said that giving something up and giving back are “two sides of the same coin.” And both are important for how Catholics view themselves during this period of preparation and reflection.
“If you focus only on one to the exclusion of the other, you can skew things a bit. If you’re only giving up things, you might see yourself as pretty ‘bad’ until you get rid of all these ‘bad’ things,” he said.
“But if you only do good for others, you can sometimes see yourself as a savior, which isn’t the case. That’s Jesus’ job.”
Opportunities for Deeper Connection
Robert Parmach, PhD, director of Ignatian Mission Initiatives, said the older he gets, the less he focuses on abstaining from things during Lent.
“I try to recommit to a concrete practice that gets me less focused on myself and more focused on others,” he said.
In response to increased interest in giving back during Lent, Parmach has expanded opportunities for students, staff, and faculty to engage with the community, including storytelling with children at the Amsterdam Houses and serving meals to the unhoused at the Church of St. Francis Xavier in Chelsea.
Parmach said the idea behind the opportunities is to engage “the head, the heart, and the hands” in the practice of accompanying and being in solidarity with those in need. “We actually want to get out there and operationalize,” he said.
‘Sincerity of Heart’
William Hayes is a Fordham Law student who is also a Jesuit scholastic living at Ciszek Hall in the Bronx, studying to become a priest in the Society of Jesus. For him, the 40 days of Lent, which mirror the time Jesus spent in the desert, are an opportunity to grow closer to God in whatever way feels appropriate.
“A lot of times, people think of it as a time to give up things. Sometimes people add things. But whatever you do, if you do it with sincerity of heart, God will meet you there,” he said.
He works alongside undergraduates in Fordham’s Pedro Arrupe Volunteer program—another opportunity for Fordham students to give of their time and connect with others. This year, he’s going to make an extra effort to record in writing his Daily Examen, a prayer technique developed by Jesuit founder St. Ignatius of Loyola to help individuals recognize God’s presence and action throughout their day. He’s been inspired by the students, who spend time accompanying residents of the Bronx and are asked to write about how the experiences affected them.
“I thought, if I’m encouraging them to put pen to paper to name the graces they encounter, I could do it myself as well.”
Finding God in Others
The idea of connecting with others resonates deeply with Jack Reilly, a 2023 Fordham graduate who is currently in his second year at Fordham Law. When he was an undergraduate, he gave up sugary drinks for Lent, and last year, he went cold turkey from social media.
This year, in addition to abstaining from social media, he’s giving back to those around him by committing to arriving five minutes early to every meeting. He got the idea from his time in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in 2024, when he realized he had little money to donate to worthy causes but could give his time to others.
“The idea is, I’ll find God in other people by respecting their time, showing up, and being fully present when things are supposed to begin,” he said.
Inspired by Opportunities to Serve
AnnMarie Pacione, a senior majoring in theology and humanitarian studies, is giving something up while reflecting on—and preparing to—give back. During her sophomore year, she lived and worked with unhoused people at St. Joseph House Catholic Worker’s shelter in the East Village.
Pacione will commit to full-time service upon graduation as a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, but for Lent, she is sleeping on the floor next to her bed. It’s a way to honor the deep connection she made with clients at St. Joseph House.
“It sounds kind of weird, and maybe a little extreme, but I find some peace in that it’s a little sacrifice that I can do,” she said.
“Coming back to campus after living at the Catholic Worker opened my eyes to all the graces I so often take for granted. Things as simple as my bed.”
