Purple candles grace the altar as Father Jerry Waris processes into mass to the sound of chimes. Nothing is heard but the sound of his footsteps and the echo of the light instrument. He makes it to the altar and spreads his arms to the congregation. This year’s annual Ash Wednesday mass has begun.

This mass was centered around the idea that Lent is a time of year for Christians to create in them a new, cleaner heart, according to campus minister Stephanie Pino-Dressman.

“[The message of the mass was for students to] ask yourself: what area of my life needs to be transformed,” Pino-Dressman said. “The goal is a change of heart, to make a 180 and turn away from any unhealthy part of [students’] lives.”

According to Pino-Dressman, this year instead of seeking out students to participate a sign was posted outside of her office so that student volunteers could sign up. Pino-Dressman was happy to discover that 10 students signed up to administer ashes and eight students signed up to be Eucharistic ministers. All of these students participated in this Wednesday’s mass.

Senior Katherine Glaser signed up to be a Eucharistic minister.

“Ash Wednesday is so important because it reminds us that no one is perfect; we are all sinners,” Glaser said.

According to Catholic Online, the ashes are administered as a reminder to be humble and that life passes away on Earth, but God is forever. The ashes are given in the shape of a cross with the saying “remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

This year the end of the season of Lent, Easter, falls on April 5.