by Ariana Maturi
Baltimore Watchdog staff writer
Students and clergymen sang hymns on Towson University’s campus, as a religious procession walked past Stephens Hall. The smell of incense surrounded them, and clergymen peeled off from the group to explain what was happening to passersby who stopped to look.
“We know you don’t typically see this every day on a public college campus,” said Alex Kulik, a seminarian, or someone studying to be a priest. The season of Lent is here, and on March 1 the seminarians joined Towson’s Catholic Campus Ministry to welcome students, make themselves known and make friends.
“We’re trying to be on campus more, for longer amounts of time, so we can meet more friends and make it known that we’re here,” Lilliana Yzaguirre said. Yzaguirre is a campus missionary from the Fellowship of Catholic University Students and is here working with Towson’s Catholic Campus Ministry to welcome students during Lent.
Lent is a season where Catholics prepare to celebrate Easter, the Resurrection of Jesus.
The season lasts for 40 days. It ends on Easter Sunday, which falls on April 17. It’s a time when Catholics reflect and often give up something as a more casual form of fasting. The point is to sacrifice for Jesus, as Christians believe Jesus sacrificed for mankind when he died and resurrected.
The procession that took place on campus in light of Lent was a Eucharistic Procession. Leading the procession was a priest holding up the Eucharist, bread believed to be the body of Christ. People following the priest while sang religious songs.
Kulik hung towards the back of the procession and welcomed curious people that stopped to stare. He walked with them, introduced himself and got to know them. Kulik started off every conversation with the same question though.
“Have you ever seen anything like this before?” Kulik asked. He and the other clergymen understand how this may be an unusual sight, and they explain the Eucharist and Lent to anyone that joins the procession.
The Catholic Campus Ministry set up at a table in the University Union before the procession, answering questions and welcoming interested students. A sign in front of it read, “Does God exist? Who is Jesus Christ? Why the Catholic Church? Hear more?”
“That’s really an opportunity to kind of find a growing community, a community that wants to welcome and embrace people wherever they’re coming from,” said Kevin Ewing, chaplain at the Catholic Campus Ministry. Ewing works with the Catholic Campus Ministry and the student board, which allows students to lead the community and lead events such as bible studies.
The president of the student board Nick Andrulewicz stood in front of the table, handing out flyers with Mass times and introducing himself to students. He answered questions they had, worked alongside Yzaguirre, Catholic students and missionaries. The questions are only a part of it though, as their main focus has always been making friends.
They want to build relationships with their “brothers and sisters” and ask people what their experience is with God and their religion, said Yzaguirre. She and Andrulewicz said that they look to build friendships, and from there guide students to God. The first and most important step though, is welcoming new friends.
The Catholic Campus Ministry holds Sunday and daily Mass in the Newman Center at 7909 York Road. Students can find more information at tucatholic.com and reach the student board. Those interested in celebrating Lent and attending Mass are welcome to attend, Andrulewicz said.