SJC Brooklyn students held a mini Mardi Gras on Tuesday in Tuohy Hall’s student lounge, in anticipation of the start of the Lenten season.
Tables in the Tuohy Hall Student Lounge were festively donned with colorful tablecloths, beads, sparkling mini Mardi Gras hats and confetti during the event organized by Campus Ministry. Mardi Gras — commonly referred to as Fat Tuesday — is an annual celebration that takes place the day before Ash Wednesday and the ritual fasting period of Lent.
At the event, SJC Brooklyn Campus Ministry Director Sister Marie Mackey addressed the room full of students, reminding them that Lent means more than giving up “peanut M&Ms, double stuffed Oreos or Brussel sprouts.”
“This time of festivity that we are having is really coming to an end,” S. Marie said. “The Christian community looks upon the next 40 days to think about, ‘How can I become a better person? How can I become closer to God?'”
S. Marie discussed how “we are all dear neighbors to each other,.”
“These next 40 days call us to be more aware, to also be grateful to the things we have,” she said. “It calls for us to be a little kinder and a little more compassionate.”
An Ash Wednesday is being celebrated today in the Kennedy Chapel in Burns Hall, followed by a Catholic Liturgy in the Tuohy Hall Auditorium during common hour.
Ashes will also be distributed in the St. George/Clark Residence hall at 9 p.m.
