Shrove Tuesday celebrated at St. Bernard

Students at St. Bernard Preparatory School prepared for the Lenten Season on Shrove Tuesday with a variety of activities on campus. The day combined a Mardi Gras style celebration as well as a reflection of the Lenten Season which was to begin the next day, Ash Wednesday.

“Fat Tuesday,” as it is sometimes called, was celebrated in style as students gathered in the Brahma Room for a festive musical celebration of Mardi Gras. The main event featured the St.Bernard All Saints Band.  Band director, Lester Harris, had students swaying with tunes entitled “This Thing Called Love," and "When the Saints Go Marching In," and blues tune, "Rip-Snortin' Belly-Scratchin', Hog Wallerin' Blues!"   Highlighting the event was the appearance of the Queen of Mardi Gras, Miss Miriam Stella, who distributed beads and moon pies. 

On a more serious note, Fr. Bede Marcy, Chaplain at St. Bernard Prep, met with the school body to talk about the season of Lent and encouraged students to spend the next forty days offering prayers, penance, and alms.  Traditionally, these practices are part of the Lenten preparation for the celebration of Easter. 

Since the “Alleluia” is not sung during the Lenten Season, Candace Rosenhoover and Sophia Rataj took a piece of paper on which the word “Alleluia” was written and placed it in a decorative box where it will remain until Easter. 

The day also included the burning of last year’s palm leaves which were used on Palm Sunday 2013.  These ashes were used as part of the Ash Wednesday ceremonies opening the Lenten Season.