How Our Lady of Lourdes students celebrate Lent

Our Lady of Lourdes School

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Courtesy of Our Lady of Lourdes School

SALT LAKE CITY – Lent means many things to many people. As a whole community service project, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School students observed the Lenten season by participating in Catholic Relief Services Operation Rice Bowl in hopes of strengthening their faith through a series of prayerful reflections, lessons and personal sacrifices.

As a way for Lourdes students to personally sacrifice together during Lent, on Fridays the entire school had the opportunity to have a bowl of rice for lunch, provided without cost by the school, for those who wished to participate. This symbolic gesture reminds the students of the millions of children around the world who do not have much more than that for their entire day’s meal on a regular basis, said Principal Christine Bergquist.

Now in its third year, this has become a school Lenten tradition. About half the students from kindergarten to eighth grade participated this year. The money that the students save by not purchasing lunch is placed in their CRS Rice Bowl. When Lent is over, 25 percent of the total amount collected will be donated to the Diocese of Salt Lake and the remaining 75 percent will be donated to Catholic Relief Services, helping transform the lives of those in need both locally and all around the world.

"The intention of engaging in this wonderful project is to help our students understand that they are incredibly blessed and to be grateful for what they have been given," Principal Bergquist said. "Lent is always a time for personal reflection and this is an opportunity for each of us to spend time in prayer and to truly sacrifice."