Without and Within

Imagine you are 12 years old, in the seventh grade, and you’ve made a promise not to watch TV for the next 40 days.

Amelia Adams, a student at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic School in Canoga Park, bravely made that commitment Wednesday, which began the season of Lent, traditionally a time of personal sacrifice for many of the world’s Christians.

Students at St. Joseph marked the occasion with an 11 a.m. children’s Mass. There was a minimum of squirming in the pews of the large, airy sanctuary as the kindergarten through eighth-grade students shared contemporary Christian musical selections, chosen and sung by students, accompanied by the principal, Sister Eva Bryan, on the guitar.

About 30 parents and some of the 4-year-olds from the pre-kindergarten class joined the service.

One by one, they went forward to have a cross traced in ashes on their foreheads. Some looked to their teachers for cues, unsure what to do with their hands.

Father Dario Miranda, associate pastor, explained the significance of Lent.

“It’s a time of spiritual preparation for Easter,” he said.

He challenged them not only to give up things that matter to them, but also to do something for other people.

Amelia had good reason to sacrifice TV.

“Because I don’t have time enough to watch TV and do my homework, and I get bad grades because of it,” she said. “This way I can do something and raise up my grades at the same time.”

Sister Eva is sure Amelia will keep her commitment.

“She does everything 100%,” the nun said.

Tuesday night Amelia and her family baked and prepared the bread used for the Eucharist in the children’s Mass.

Some of the 329 students promised to answer Father Dario’s challenge with a written pledge turned in to Sister Eva. Writing it down and sharing it with someone else was meant to reinforce their agreement to give up things like Nintendo and sweet treats.

Hazel Heredia, 5, promised to give up her skating Barbie because “I have two dolls but I only need one.” She will keep her Burp Baby and surrender Barbie to her mom for safekeeping.

Eighth-grader Jonathan Morquecho, 13, was about 10 last time he gave up something for Lent, he said. He gave up cake.

But he lasted only three weeks that time. This time he’ll make it all the way, he said. This time he plans to write out his pledge to give up candy.

“I’ll put it on my wall and look at it every day to remind me,” he said. And if his friends try to tempt him, he has a backup plan.

“Beg for mercy,” he said.

Theresa Chiong, 11, went without gum last year for the whole 40 days. This year she’ll give up ice cream.

“Because Jesus gave up his life for us, so I’m gonna give up something for him,” she said.

Soda is a big favorite of Kimberly Stuber, 13, so she’s giving it up.

Last year it was chocolate, and she got through the 40 days. But it was torture, she said. She gives up something every year.

“My whole family does it, so I want to do it.”

Sister Eva challenges the children to do something positive other than abstaining.

“If they give up candy, don’t gobble it all up on Easter,” she said “Give it away. That is the sacrifice.”

The children were also encouraged to think of sacrifices parents make, like working multiple jobs to pay for their children’s educations.

“There are a lot of parents who could spend two weeks in Hawaii with the money they put into them here,” she said.

Sister Eva spoke proudly of her students’ giving nature.

“These kids are all very thoughtful and ‘other’ minded,” she said.

When countries in Central America were devastated in November by earthquakes, the school raised $17,000 and sent it, along with 22 truckloads of clothing, to help the victims, she said.

*

KEEPING THE FAITH: Santa Anita racetrack grooms find spiritual solace in weekly Masses celebrated at work. B11