Students celebrated mass for Ash Wednesday, held by Father Brian Doran of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church at the T building of the LAC campus on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
Coordinator of the event and former club advisor for LBCC’s Catholic group “Be the Change,” Dele C. Ladejobi, spoke about the meaning of Ash Wednesday and the logistics of the event.
“The celebration of Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and the 40 days of fasting before Easter,” Ladejobi said.
During the event, Ladejobi added, “Ashes are placed on the foreheads of mass attendees as a sign of human mortality and repentance to God.”
Ladejobi said the ashes used for mass were also significant because they were made from the incinerated palm trees dedicated to Palm Sunday of the previous year in April.
Ladejobi, who is also a tenured librarian at LBCC began the tradition of Ash Wednesday in order to make it more convenient for students to attend mass.
St. Anthony Parish has provided LBCC with resources that include priests and nuns to hold the mass, and Ladejobi expressed her gratitude for their cooperation.
She said, “Ash Wednesday is very busy, and it’s not easy to get someone here. But people benefit from it, some come for confessions, some between classes, and it’s one of the things for outreach that we want to continue to hold.”
“It’s a wonderful religion. The message is diverse, neutral, inclusive, and all are welcome to come.”
LBCC IT support specialist Jonathan Tejadas spoke about what the mass means to him.
“I’ve been coming every year since 2015, except last year when we had to cancel because Father Brian got sick. I’m thankful for them being able to do this on campus,” he said.
“It’s important for us as Catholics to celebrate Ash Wednesday, because it’s a very special day that marks the first day of Lent. The option of also having confession is pretty cool,” Tejada said.
What Tejada is referring to is the confession ritual that Catholics participate in, where penance in the form of prayer is given from a priest for past sins.
Father Brian Doran held confession at the event and discussed his motivation to continue holding the mass every year.
“Like other people of faith, [holding mass] is partly habit, partly because you want to continue doing something good,” said Father Doran.
The Catholic priest who has been at St. Anthony parish in Long Beach for almost fifty years now said, “These young people have lives ahead of them. When I pass by LBCC, I always feel these young people give me joy, life and so much positive energy. It’s a privilege to be invited to hold mass every year.”
Father Doran, who suffered a stroke last year, but was able to hold mass again this year said, “I hope I can do this again next year, God willing. I’m okay, but I have to use a magnifying glass to see now.”
Mass attendees, Ladejobi, and Father Doran all expressed their appreciation for St. Anthony’s parish and hope to attend the next Ash Wednesday mass next year.