By Sister Joan Pikiell, SSND
"Joy" and "Lent" are not words you often hear together. Their pairing might seem as mismatched as peanut butter and mayonnaise! Yet, this Lent has brought me three profound moments of joy.
The first occurred on Ash Wednesday. I distributed ashes at our school Mass at Our Lady of Hope/St. Luke School. Like many Catholic schools, we pair older students with younger ones as prayer partners.
I placed ashes on the foreheads of our Pre-K 3- and 4-year-olds, who approached with their 4th- and 5th-grade partners. The care and attentiveness of the older students struck me as they gently guided their little companions. With their prayer partners behind them, the young children approached with bright smiles, unafraid of the ashes. No tears, no hesitation, just pure faith.
It was a moment that filled my heart with joy.
The second moment of joy also involved prayer partners. My 8th-grade students are paired with 1st-graders, and each Friday, they attend the Stations of the Cross together.
If you’ve ever worked with 8th-graders, you know they can be challenging — especially after receiving their high school acceptances! When they step into the role of spiritual mentors however, something remarkable happens. They teach prayers, answer difficult questions, and guide their young partners through the rituals of the Stations.
Want to experience joy? Watch an 8th-grader teach a 1st-grader to genuflect each time they hear, “Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.”
And if that doesn’t bring a smile to your face, listen to the 1st-grade choir as they enthusiastically sing “tremble, tremble, tremble”— on pitch or off! The joy is unmistakable.
The third moment of joy came during the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s annual Mass celebrating the World Day for Consecrated Life. This year, ten SSND jubilarians attended, collectively representing an astounding 665 years of dedicated service to God and God’s people. These Sisters celebrated milestones of 50, 60, 70, and even 75 years of consecrated life. The joy in the church was tangible, a testament to a lifetime of faith and devotion.
Each of these moments reflected the passing of the torch from one generation to the next.
Whether through prayer partners or the wisdom of our elders, we all have a role to play in helping the next generation recognize the joy of Lent.
Only then can we fully embrace the glory of Easter!
