On Wednesday, February 18, 2026, Catholic Central celebrated the start of Lent with an Ash Wednesday all-school Mass service.

During Mass, celebrated by Father Fulton, students and staff were reminded that there are three parts to Lent. Father Fulton challenged our community to focus on what we are going to do as Catholics, and not just what we are going to give up.  

“Most of the time, the association we have when we begin Lent is to give something up. But in the Gospel, Jesus says there are three parts to Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. In other words, something you give up, something you do, and prayer,” Father Fulton explained during his Homily. 

“We’re pretty good at Almsgiving here at Catholic Central. We just raised $1.2 million. That’s all for a worthy and just cause for our brothers.” 

“Most of the time, people think about giving money, and money is really clean. You give a buck and you walk away. There’s not necessarily much personal investment in it. The challenge during this Lent is ‘What are you going to do?’ and not just ‘What are you going to give up?’ “What are you going to do during Lent to make a positive impact on your life or your spiritual life or your relationship with God and those who surround you? That’s almsgiving,” he continued. 

“Technically, Lent is a time for fasting and abstinence. The purpose of our fasting is that we should hunger for God as much as we hunger for food. As essential as food is for life, God is even more essential.” 

“But there are other ways to engage the Lenten fast. Maybe we need to fast from saying things. Maybe we have to fast with our ears or maybe we need to fast our eyes, especially from devices. Are there things that we watch and intake into our soul that we need to fast from?” 

He concluded by explaining, “Prayer is really quite simply a conversation with God so that our hearts will be converted to God. In our prayer to God, we get what we need. Spend quality time with God so that you become more God-like and your heart will be converted to God.”