Pubmat by Hans Paigones

By Lara Athena F. Recuenco

In the midst of hectic work and school schedules, mounting deadlines, and thoughts of an uncertain future, it is easy for the Lenten season to go by unnoticed. For many high school students, Lent can feel like just another Church tradition. A tradition that is highly acknowledged, yet not something truly taken to heart. 

Yet, Lent was never actually meant to be just another routine or tradition followed. It is meant to be a journey for everyone.

The word “Lent” comes from the Old English word “lencten,” which means “spring,” a season generally associated with growth, new beginnings, and life after long periods of darkness. That alone entails that the season of Lent is not just about making sacrifices and giving things up. It is about making space for something deeper, and letting go of what weighs you down, so that hope and healing can take root in your life.

In a world that demands constant output and progress, Lent serves as a simple reminder of God’s invitation to rest, to reflect, and to return to Him. For students feeling overwhelmed with responsibilities, or even spiritually disconnected, this meaningful season offers peace.

With all that being said, it is important to note that hope is always possible, and renewal is always within reach. It is never too late to begin again and start anew. 

True Meaning of Lent

In the Bible, the number forty is deeply symbolic. For instance, it recalls the forty days that Jesus spent in the desert, facing temptation and preparing for his mission, and mirrors the forty years that the Israelites wandered in the wilderness before reaching the promised land. In those periods of waiting, the people were tested and, over time, learned to trust in God’s promise.

This sense of spiritual preparation and growth continues to resonate with many today, especially in the Ateneo de Manila Senior High School (ASHS) community. 

“I come from a family that really observes fasting and abstinence, especially during Lent, like every Friday, we avoid meat, and we always try to attend Mass together. Growing up, I saw it more as a routine, something we just did because it was expected. But as I got older, I started to realize that it’s not just about the rules. The deeper meaning of Lent, for me, is learning how to sacrifice with love. Lent has become a reminder that I’m not alone in the struggles I face, and that I can use this season to grow, even in small ways,” Maria San Juan, an ASHS junior, said when asked about how she sees the deeper meaning of Lent beyond just fasting and tradition.

And truly, beyond its practices and rituals, Lent offers a powerful opportunity to return to the heart of one’s faith. Despite how easy it is to ignore or overlook its significance in the noise of daily life, this season is still an invitation to pause and begin again. It aims to deliver the message that even in the midst of feelings of brokenness and restlessness, there is always space to find peace, direction, and healing.

In this way, Lent becomes something like a personal springtime for the soul. For the people navigating stress, pressure, and uncertainty, Lent is a gentle assurance that growth is happening, even when it seems to be unseen.

Rediscovering God in the Waiting

But as mentioned earlier, despite the Lenten season’s rich meaning and significance, it often becomes like a background noise in the busy lives of many students. With the pressure of academics, graduation, college applications, as well as leadership and organization roles, it is easy to lose sight of the spirit amidst the noise. 

Still, Lent has always stood as a quiet invitation and a reminder to pause and listen. For many students, this time becomes more than just a religious tradition; it becomes a much-needed breath of fresh air in the middle of all the workload and chaos. Moreover, it is a space where silence becomes sacred, and where even the smallest acts of sacrifice, such as letting go of past habits, or setting aside time for prayer, can feel like a return to something deeper

Despite this, some seniors have found that Lent, even amid life’s chaos, has given them a rare space to breathe and reconnect with God, with others, and even with their own selves. 

“Waiting for college results was honestly one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through. Especially with Ateneo, it felt like everything I worked for was just hanging in the balance. There were nights I really started to doubt myself and question if I was even good enough. But then the results came in, and I saw that I got in, in my priority course even. I still remember when the results came in and a lot of people just suddenly started cheering, hugging each other, and crying. I’ll never forget that feeling of joy and relief, it was like everything I worked hard for finally paid off. It made me realize that even when it feels like nothing’s happening, you’re still moving forward,” shared by Mark Perez, one of the ASHS seniors.

His words echo the deeper meaning of both Lent and life’s own waiting periods: that underneath all the uncertainty lies an invitation to trust and hope. Just as Lent is a preparation for Easter, like a moment of light after darkness, so too do everyone’s own waiting seasons often serve as preparation for moments of breakthrough. 

And often, it is in this quiet stretch of time that God is most able to be recognized in the background, shaping and strengthening us.

Looking back at what Perez said, there is one more important thing he wanted to say to those who are still in the middle of their own waiting season:  “My advice for all the juniors is to simply trust the process and take it easy. There will always be nerve-wracking fear but the fact that you feel fear is already proof of your sincere passion — proof of your hope.”

Finding Strength in the Ateneo Community

Entering the sacred season of Lent, the Ateneo de Manila Junior High School (AJHS) community embarked on its own journey as Pilgrims of Hops with the celebration of Ash Wednesday on March 5. The holy Mass was presided over by Fr. Joaquin Jose Mari C. Sumpaico III, SJ, Vice President for Basic Education.

Fr. Sumpaico spoke about the deeply human experience of confronting uncertainty. He acknowledged how thinking about the beginning and end of life can often provoke fear, precisely because these are things beyond our grasp.

“Habang iniisip natin ang ating pinagmulan at kahahantungan,” he shared,  “tila ba napangungunahan tayo ng takot, sapagkat ito ay mga bagay na wala tayong hawak at wala tayong kamulatan sa ating karanasan, sa simula at sa dulo.” 

Yet, rather than avoid these fears, he invited the community to hold them in faith. He also raised three key questions for reflection: First, how are we being called to “die to ourselves” this Lent? Second, what ‘limit situations’ in our lives are we being called to offer to God? And last, who are the ‘models of faith’ in our lives who guide us by their example?

Meanwhile, in the ASHS community, the season began with a school-wide Ash Wednesday mass, where the students, faculty, and parents gathered to begin the season of Lent through the receiving of ashes, showing commitment to repenting and believing in the Gospel. 

More than a ceremonial practice, the Ash Wednesday Mass marks the beginning of a wider initiative across Ateneo to invite reflection and spiritual growth. It sets the tone for the entire Lenten season, reminding the community that faith is not simply performed, but lived.

In the quiet solemnity of the ritual – the imposition of ashes and the call to “repent and believe in the Gospel,” the students and faculty alike are invited to pause, look inward, and begin a journey of transformation. This moment signals a deeper invitation to reorient one’s life toward humility, service, and purpose.

The Mass becomes a launching point for personal renewal and collective action, reinforcing the idea that Lent is a time to reflect, slow down, and most of all, return to what truly matters: the call to serve others and the inner transformation that comes from living with greater compassion.

There was also the University Way of the Cross, where members of the Ateneo community walked together in prayer across the campus. As the people moved from one station to the next, the experience became a quiet yet powerful expression of solidarity and shared faith. Walking together in prayer reminded everyone that Lent is not a journey taken alone, but one made alongside others, grounded in compassion, hope, and a deeper connection and commitment to God.

Furthermore, in Catholic Social Teaching and Personal Development (CSTPD) classes, there are guided reflections and classroom discussions that encourage the students to rediscover the presence of God, even in moments of uncertainty and pain. In these classes, the students are also taught of sacrifices, even small ones, that can be done with the various Catholic Social Teaching (CST)  principles in mind, most especially the principle of preferential option for the poor.

These discussions often lead to personal insights that play a significant role in encouraging students to discover how their faith intersects with social responsibility, wherein they think not only about individual growth, but also the kind of positive change in the world that they want to help prosper.

Small acts of sacrifice, whether they come in the form of choosing to share resources, giving up luxuries, or offering time to serve others, become more than just simple acts of kindness. They become personal reminders of Lent’s call to selflessness and compassion. In a season that mirrors Christ’s own sacrifice, these actions help students see how faith can be lived out through empathy and service. 

Additionally, it is in these very moments of classroom discussion and reflections wherein Lent becomes more than just a tradition, but rather an invitation to embody it. The students of ASHS are reminded that connecting with God does not always require grand gestures, because sometimes, it is found in choosing to listen more, love more, and act more for others, especially those in most need of it.

But more so than that, it also appears as though the Ateneo community itself is a symbol of hope with the mentioned practices that remind its students to strengthen their faith, as well as reconnect with God. From prayer before classes to outreach programs, recollections, and retreats – these spiritual anchors show us that the themes of Lent are not confined to a single liturgical season. Rather, they are lived throughout the entire school year, woven into the very fabric of formation.

Growing Through the Struggle

In the end, Lent is not meant to be a burden. It is an invitation to slow down and take a deep breath, especially before or during times of major transitions, such as moving up to senior year, preparing for graduation, or even starting life in a new school or country. 

It is more than okay to struggle. Faith and renewal are more about showing up, even when things are messy or unclear, rather than just having everything figured out in an instant. What is important is that consistent efforts are shown and that small steps forward are taken, even in the darkest of times.

Every effort made to grow, no matter how small, matters. As they say, small ripples create big waves. Whether it is a quiet prayer at the end of a long day, a kind gesture, or simply being more present, these things shape what kind of person you become. 

Always keep in mind: Even in the waiting, even in the struggle, God is working in you.