ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
St. Mary’s High School student Matt Costanza, inspired by Pope Benedict, collects essentials for those in need during Lent.
BY GABE MARTINEZ
So who in the name of God needs social media?
If you want to keep up with Pope Francis’ daily Lenten messages, you’ll need to download and listen through the new messaging app, Telegram. His Holiness is reading one verse of the Gospel every day for the 40 days leading up to Easter. The audio messages are posting to the Pope’s “Keep Lent” channel, @pgpompei, on Telegram.
This news may give Marlon Scott, a sophomore at St. Mary’s High School in Lynn, justification to rethink his Lenten sacrifice.
“I am staying away from social media,” said Scott. “It’s a distraction and I could be doing better things, like the Hunger for Justice.”
With the Lenten season underway, Scott and his classmates from St. Mary’s are giving up personal vices, while also helping others.
Students have been collecting toiletries for the homeless over the last few weeks. The toiletries are part of the Hunger for Justice program. The program begins on Good Friday with a prayer service on Nahant Beach. On Holy Saturday, students board buses and head to Boston to donate the toiletries to the homeless, and also hear their stories.
“Lent focuses on three things — prayer, almsgiving and fasting,” said senior Sophya Fuccione. “ I swear a lot, so I am giving up swearing.”
Fuccione said she plans to put a quarter in her rice bowl when she catches herself swearing and donating that money to the Catholic Relief Services. She didn’t reveal how many quarters are in the rice bowl.
Matt Costanza, a senior, plans to give up coffee and plans to wake up everyday at 6:30 a.m.
“I’m doing Hunger for Justice because I don’t want to just give something up for Lent, I also want to give something back to people,” said Costanza.
Senior Adelina Katzounos plans to stay away from things that are not going to keep her close to God, particularly binge watching Netflix shows, Katzounos joked.
“I’m giving up fast food,” said Rebecca Kirby, a senior. “I work at Chic-fil-A, and it is very easy for me to get a free meal,” said Kirby.
Students are not the only ones sacrificing for Lent. The Rev. Brian Flynn, pastor of St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart parishes, plans to stop checking email during the evening.
“I hope to just be able to put the phone down,” Father Flynn said. “My phone is almost an extension of my hand now.”
The Rev. Michael Steele, pastor of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Marblehead, will continue his Lenten tradition of giving up his favorite meal: pizza.
“Usually after the Easter Vigil some parishioners will host a pizza dinner for me,” said Father Steele.
One year, a fellow priest sent a pizza to the rectory in an effort to tempt Father Steele into eating pizza. He resisted the temptation.
The Item plans to follow up with those interviewed to see how they managed to keep their Lenten promises.
Gabe Martinez can be reached at [email protected] follow him on Twitter @gemartinez92.