High school students experience Lent the Franciscan way

Students at Padua Franciscan High School in Parma, Ohio, are experiencing Lent the Franciscan way, spending time in prayer, service, almsgiving and peacemaking. 

On Feb. 25, friars at the school organized a Holy Hour for Peace. This was part of a national effort by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to pray for an end to division following weeks of unrest over immigration enforcement and the death of two protestors. 

The prayer service aligned with the school’s four pillars founded on Franciscan spirituality: Prayer, Service, Care and Peace and included Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for all 800 students. 

Before Christ 

“Students came closer to the altar and kneeled or sat on the gym floor. There were songs of praise and then we ended with a beautiful litany of justice, a litany for peace that the bishops gave us. Then, a blessing and a sending forth,” said Br. William McIntyre, OFM, vice president of mission and ministry at Padua. 

Students were seen silent in prayer and in awe before Christ present in the Eucharist encased in a vessel known as a monstrance. The school provides year-round prayer experiences for students and offers additional retreats during Lent, such as a retreat on peacemaking for all freshmen held the day after the Holy Hour for Peace. 

During the retreat, students were asked to reflect on how they interact with one another and how they can contribute to a more peaceful world.  

“We focused on bringing about more loving, peaceful relationships among all people, regardless of race, creed, color, sexuality, etc.,” said Tim Evans, director of service. 

Led by members of the Campus Ministry and Peer Ministry teams, the students spent half the day contemplating the Franciscan pillar of peacemaking, and the other half learning how to better dialogue with people who have different views. Through these and other experiences, students grow in their relationship with Jesus, and this inspires them to see others around them as brothers and sisters in Christ. 

“The kids really want to feel close to Christ. I think that's why they want that encounter with another, to feel the encounter with Christ through others, as well as in service,” said Tim. 

Caring for the forgotten

Encountering Christ through a relationship with people in need, especially the marginalized, is a core Franciscan value and part of the ethos at Padua Franciscan High School. 

“We care for those who are marginalized at our school. Fr. Bill really talks about this a lot in his homilies, and he always tells us we have to reach out to others, like Jesus taught us to, and make sure that we are caring for those who might be forgotten about or just overlooked in society,” said Paige Muhvic, a student. 

Each week, the students visit St. Herman's House of Hospitality where they serve warm meals and provide great Franciscan hospitality. During Lent, there are even more ways to show love and care to those on the margins. 

On Feb. 24, the entire sophomore class, about 209 students, visited 16 different charities across the Cleveland area to give back and share hope. Sites included the Cleveland Food Bank, St. Herman's House of Hospitality, Mount Alverna Senior Living and the Franciscan Village Nursing Home. 

Through these activities, students are learning the Franciscan value of humility – recognizing that each person is loved and created by God for a special purpose.  

“Humility is really important. A lot of times when people go into service, they think more about what they are going to do for someone else as opposed to thinking about what mutual benefit can we have from one another because we are equal sisters and brothers under our one Lord, and I have as much to learn from you as I can ever provide,” said Tim.