Catholic Mass went on as usual yesterday at Boston University despite the recent sexual abuse complaints leveled against the Archdiocese of Boston.
“In his homily on repentance, Father Paul Helfrich mentioned the incident,” said Campus Minister Mariana Miller. “Father Paul has also been open for students to come and talk about the issues and what their feelings are concerning these allegations.”
Students said the incidents had nothing do with their feelings on Ash Wednesday or the upcoming season of Lent.
“It is very tragic, and it is tough to deal with spiritually and legally,” said College of Arts and Sciences senior Justin Ryan. “But it doesn’t speak to what we do in these walls, it doesn’t reflect on us.”
Many students said they still would observe the holiday, saying they still believe in the core values of the day.
Ash Wednesday is observed by a special service in which churchgoers receive ashes in the shape of a cross on their forehead while hearing the phrase “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return.” The cross is considered a symbol of faith and a reminder of mortality.
“Every year, I have someone come up and tell me that I have dirt on my forehead,” Ryan said.
“When I tell them they are ashes for Ash Wednesday, they are very apologetic, but I don’t mind,” he said. “There’s a nice solidarity when you see people all over the campus with ashes.”
According to Rev. Rahl Bunsa of the Boston University Catholic Center, many more people attend services on Ash Wednesday than on other days, even people who are not Christian.
“I have a friend who is atheist and goes every year,” said Crista Merendino, a School of Management sophomore.
“The Mass I went to was very well-attended,” Ryan said. “People feel good coming away from these services.”
BU’s Catholic Center met the large demand for services by providing two Masses in Marsh Chapel, a fully packed observance at noon and another at 10 p.m., as well as a liturgical service with ashes at the small Newman House Chapel at 4 p.m.
“This is the first year that we are offering the extra service in the Chapel,” Bunsa said.
“We decided to do something new because last year we had people popping in at all hours of the day for ashes,” he continued. “It seems really popular so far.”
Leslie Tan, a CAS junior, said she liked the added service.
“It was very convenient,” Tan said. “I go to services every year, but this year I had classes all day, so I couldn’t make the other Masses.”
Despite the Catholic Church’s recent portrayal in the media, some students said giving up something as a sacrifice during Lent is worth the effort.
“You have to give up something you like,” Ryan said. “But whatever you give up is just a huge fraction of what Jesus Christ gave up. It’s a small price to pay.”
Students leaving from the 4 p.m. service at the Newman House reflected on what they were going to try to stop doing, or in many cases, start doing more, for Lent this year.
“I usually give up something I like to eat or something else I like to do,” Tan said. “But this year I think that instead of giving something up, I am going to try to do something like say the rosary every day.”
“I know someone who is giving up watching TV and listening to the radio,” said CAS senior Lorena Cuellar.
This is an account occasionally used by the Daily Free Press editors to post archived posts from previous iterations of the site or otherwise for special circumstance publications. See authorship info on the byline at the top of the page.
