A Time of Renewal, Reflection and Faith Begins

Opportunities to come together and give back mark the season of Lent at Sacred Heart

From retreats to community service projects, the Lenten season at Sacred Heart University will be a time to come together, give back, serve others and reflect on how to foster peace and hope within oneself and the larger community.

“This is a time when we have an opportunity to reflect and be renewed in mind, body and spirit,” said Matthew Shields, executive director for Mission Integration at Sacred Heart. “I believe for many people, Lent is a time to turn inward and reflect, see who we are and grow in our spiritual life. It’s also a time when there is increased attention to giving back.”

If you are looking for ways to observe and reflect on your spiritual journey, as well as find ways to give back during this season of Lent, there are several opportunities over the next several weeks to do just that.

Ways to Observe

Lent begins tomorrow on Ash Wednesday, with several masses and services that will include the distribution of ashes. Here is the schedule:

• West Campus Assisi Prayer Room: 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Mass will be celebrated, and ashes will be distributed with Fr. Emiel Abalahin, O.Carm
• Chapel of the Holy Spirit: 12:30 p.m. Mass will be celebrated, and ashes will be distributed with Fr. John Ograh
• Center for Healthcare Education: noon to 1 p.m. Ashes will be distributed by the Rev. Sara Smith
• Chapel of the Holy Spirit: 4 p.m. Service and distribution of ashes with the Rev. Sara Smith and Campus Minister Ruth Williamson

There will be a Taizé meditative prayer service at 6 p.m., Monday, March 24, at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, which is open to everyone.

There are several ongoing opportunities, including Sunday and daily Mass, reconciliation and student-led events. Campus Ministry has a listing of services.

Ways to Reflect

There will be several opportunities to explore and reflect on one’s faith. Campus Ministry will host the 2025 Lenten Busy Person Retreat, "Praying Through Lent: Meeting Christ in Scripture," from March 16 to April 6. It is open to students, faculty and staff who seek ways to pray and reflect amid hectic schedules. You’ll meet once a week with a spiritual companion. Registration closes Wednesday, March 12. Questions? Email campusministry@sacredheart.edu.

Earlier, on Tuesday, March 11, as part of the Center for Catholic Studies Human Journey Colloquia Series, a panel will discuss the legacy and work of important women saints in Catholic history. Information about this event and the entire series can be found on the center’s webpage.

Campus Ministry and the Ryan Matura Library will host a faculty and staff prayer reflection and book discussion group, which will be centered around Sr. Melannie Svoboda’s book, Hanging onto Hope: Reflections and Prayers for Finding Good in an Imperfect World. The group will run in a four-part series, meeting Wednesdays, from March 12 to April 2. For more information and to sign up, contact organizers.

On Saturday, March 29, a Lenten retreat, “The Passion of Christ—Experience of Trauma, Sign of Hope: Lenten Reflections from Therapy and Spiritual Direction,” will offer the SHU community time to reflect on the Passion of Jesus though a therapeutic and psychological view, as well as provide context through a spiritual and theological perspective. It is a collaboration between Campus Ministry and the SHU Counseling Center. Registration is ongoing.

“We’ll be asking questions and coming together in small groups to take a psychological and spiritual look at the Gospels and connecting the spiritual with human experiences,” said Fr. Emiel Abalahin. “This exploration provides relevancy to who we are as a community, and also how we approach our place in the world and our connection with God.”

For undergraduate and graduate SHU students who choose to meditate creatively, the Meditative Arts Group will launch on Wednesday, March 12. This six-week program—a collaboration between the Counseling Center, Campus Ministry and SHU Zen—is a chance for students to slow down, relax, connect with others, practice mindfulness and have fun. No experience is necessary, though registration is requested.

Ways to Give Back

During Lent and at other times during the year, departments, clubs and organizations are continually collaborating on projects on campus and beyond. “It’s always amazing to see the impact of these collaborations,” Shields said. “This really shapes who we are and is a visible sign of how we are spreading our mission.”

Part of that mission is to be open and welcoming to all and prepare students to personally and professionally make a difference in the global community—and that begins close to home.

On Friday, March 28, several Sacred Heart departments and organizations will host Hunger Project, an event at which campus volunteers come together to package bulk nonperishable food items. These meals are then distributed to a local organization. This year, that recipient will be nOURish Bridgeport, a nonprofit that has programs focused on education, food and health. One of its initiatives is to mitigate the effects of food scarcity and food insecurity. It was founded by the Rev. Sara Smith, who is Sacred Heart’s Protestant chaplain.

“Our hope is that students gain a deeper understanding of societal challenges and different perspectives, leading to increased empathy and social awareness,” said Annie Johnson, director of community engagement. “Many students say these experiences opened their eyes to different social issues and deepened their understanding of challenges that our neighbors face on a daily basis.”

SHU employees can also help those who are hungry. Through March, there will be multiple opportunities to distribute food to families at a local church. To sign up or learn more, you can send an email or call 203-371-4710.

Beyond the season of Lent, SHU’s Community Engagement connects students and other members of the SHU community with local and global opportunities to help others. Johnson encourages those who are interested in volunteering to visit community engagement or the GivePulse platform, which is a hub of information and opportunities. Also, every week, volunteer opportunities are posted, along with information on long-term volunteer commitments and domestic and service-learning events.

“Our programs are tangible ways our students can live out the mission of the University by promoting the common good and recognizing the dignity and worth of every human being,” Johnson said. “Students consistently share a sense of purpose and fulfillment; they find joy and motivation in making a difference.”