Lent Begins! C40M Starts off Strong

With the coming of the commemorative Ash Wednesday mass, the sorrowful season of Lent has arrived, and what better way to embrace the season than with Moeller’s very own C40M.

C40M is an extracurricular program at Moeller that runs throughout Lent and is a way to make the season of Lent more grounded and real for the student body. Led and organized by Campus Minister Steve Joebgen, participants are placed into small groups with one faculty leader and meetings are held once a week during the 40-day Lenten period.

This group is designed to allow students to be fully honest with their classmates about their goals for Lent while also fostering a stronger brotherhood with one another. Group members are asked to listen and let God speak to them through their peers and facilitator to make their Lenten experience more memorable. While in meetings, students are encouraged to write down notes in their C40M journals, listen and absorb insight from their leader, and be open to new advice or challenges that lie ahead for them during this time.

As many already know, Lent is a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving while leading up to the celebration of the Lord's resurrection on Easter Sunday. For many high school students, Lent is not much different than any other part of the year. Students go through school and work without engaging in the self-reflection or spiritual renewal that this time can bring. Although, for those who have given this program a chance, it has improved their spiritual goals while also encouraging them to partake even more deeply the next year.

For example, school captain Joe Ginnetti has participated in C40M all four years at Moeller, saying, “C40M helped me challenge myself more to stay on track and hold myself and group mates accountable.” With the student leader of the school vouching for this great opportunity for spiritual growth, many other students have followed suit. To show for that, Moeller has had a record amount of student sign-ups this year surpassing 100 participants!

While Moeller has room to grow in their spiritual outreach to students, C40M is a great way for underclassmen to get involved in Campus Ministry while also learning and growing personally through the challenges they may face during this season. Lent is a time for restoration and rebirth to get closer to our Lord, and C40M is a great way for students to journey down that path and dedicate themselves throughout the rest of the year.