Lenten Food Drive and 12 Hour Fast
- Feb 23
- 3 min read
By: Ryan Binette
As the season of Lent starts, St. Michaels Wings of Faith starts preparing for multiple faith based events designed to bring students together in prayer, fellowship, and reflection. With a school wide Mass, to a 12 hour fast and a food drive, these give the opportunities for students to grow in their faith, while making their sense of community stronger.
The journey for Lent within the school will start with a Mass on March 5th, inviting everyone to come together in prayer. As well the Lent Food Drive will start, running until Holy Thursday. The food drive helps encourage students to be more selfless by thinking not just about themselves but about how their contribution, even being one can of something, can be helpful and appreciated for those who cannot afford such commodities. Throughout Lent, students will have the chance to participate in the Stations of the Cross in the chapel, to reflect on Christ’s journey and sacrifice in a meaningful way, and in prayer.
One of the more well known activities of Wings of Faith occurring soon in March, the 25th, will be the 12 hour fast. The 12 hour fast will run from 8:00 AM untill 8:00 PM. The fast is meant not for a physical challenge but as a faith experience. According to the school chaplain, Mr. Minardi, he says that “The idea behind it is to not eat so we can identify more clearly with what others don’t have.” He explained “It helps us become more aware of the less that exists in the world and even in our own lives”
Fasting during Lent has been a tradition for a long time within the Catholic Community, it encourages believers to look towards God and focus on Him. When a student feels hunger throughout the fast it can be used as a way to remind you of what others don’t have and that we have a dependence on God, and His creations. Mr. Minardi said “Sometimes when we’re hungry, we need to find strength somewhere,” and “By praying and becoming closer to God, fasting allows that to take place”. He added that fasting also helps people realize that there are needs that aren’t just food and are greater than food, more specifically, faith, hope, and a connection with God.
Now people may wonder what will happen during the fast, school will continue as normal but at the end people will stay after school for the fast. Our Chaplain has planned a wide range of activities to keep students well engaged and connected. There will be games on PS4 or PS5, a karaoke machine where students can have fun with friends and the gym will be open for various physical activities. A movie room will also be an option to offer a nice relaxed space to watch.
Our Chaplain in the interview emphasized that the students should focus on fellowship during the fast, quoting him he said “I think that they should focus on community, praying with others, being involved in different activities with others”. He also encourages that students keep the end goal in mind which is to break the fast together.
The end of the fast will end with a Mass at 7:30 PM, which the Chaplain described as an experience “Mass is where we recognize that we need God in our lives, that God will give us everything we need,” he explained. Even in hunger students will be reminded that faith based nourishment comes though God and receiving Communion. The Mass will also be a moment of gratitude to give thanks because “we can have a meal and share it together. Many people who are hungry may never be able to have another meal.”
After mass is ended, the participants will break the fast together at 8:00pm, sharing a “feast” provided by the parent council, and celebrating our faith that carried participants throughout the day.
For students who have never fasted before, and are new to it, participation is encouraged at a level that has meaning and is safe.The focus is not on being perfect but about the intentions, the commitment to prayer, and joining together as Catholics.
As Lent continues, these events aim to help remind students that faith should not be lived alone. Through fasting, prayer, and service within our school community we can help create a Lenten experience that helps make people more aware of their faith and grow together to make a healthy relationship with our Lord, God.