From commitment to tradition, island's faithful share what lent season means

by Jannice Carrasco, for KUAM News

40 days of fasting, prayer and almsgiving kicks off today on Guam.  Catholics across the island taking time to attend mass on Ash Wednesday, each honoring the start of the solemn season in their own way.  KUAM found out what Lent means to the island’s faithful. 

Pews across Guam filled with the island’s faithful on Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of the holy Lenten season.  At Santa Barbara Catholic Church in Dededo, KUAM spoke with members of the community to hear why lent is important to them. 

For some like a Yigo resident, it’s a period of abstinence. "It’s when we give up something for God or for Jesus. I really like it, but sometimes I kind of don’t want to give up things that I have to give up, but it’s okay," they said.

For Concepcion Viray and her partner, they give up meat on Fridays.  She says the 40-day concession is worth it, by what she gains in return. “You gain indulgences from the Lord," she said,

For many, it’s a time of prayer and tradition. “Lent for me is to repent for my sins and to just pray to God," one parishioner said. “It’s very important for me because I grew up always coming to Lent time.”

Norma, another Dededo resident, said, “We celebrate with a lot of prayers, fasting was necessary. But, at a certain age like mine, I’m very careful. So, we just take precautions on taking care of what we do for Lent. I wish to gain a lot of my Christian faith, humility, a lot of spiritual well-being with my family, friends, and the community–it’s very important.”

But as Yigo resident Elizabeth Lim says, perhaps the most important reminder of this solemn season is that of commitment.  “It’s not what we give up, but what we commit to. We wanted to make a family commitment to paying closer attention to our sacraments and days of obligation," she said.