JACOB KONST/Arizona Daily Wildcat Father Michael Fones sings during evening prayer at the Newman Center yesterday. The Lenten season, a time of symbolic sacrifice for Christians, began Feb. 9 and lasts for 40 days until Easter.

For students who felt Ash Wednesday sneak up on them this year, they aren't alone – it came two weeks earlier than last year and four weeks earlier than in 2003.

One week ago, some Christian students on campus began celebrating Lent, which started on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 9, and continues for 40 days until Easter.

Churches on campus, including the St. Thomas More Catholic Newman Center and Campus Christian Ministries, held services Feb. 9 during which a priest or pastor anointed church members' foreheads with ashes, which are said to represent human mortality.

At least 100 people attended each of the five services held by the Newman Center on Ash Wednesday and about 1,200 people came total, said Rev. Bart Hutcherson from the Catholic Newman Center.

Believers often give up something they enjoy, like chocolate, in the tradition of fasting and begin reflection and preparation for Easter, Hutcherson said.

"It is a time when Catholics are encouraged to reflect on their lives before God, especially to figure out ways to do better in our lives before God," Hutcherson said.

In Catholicism, Easter is the only day of the year believers can join the church officially. Therefore, Lent is a special time of preparation for the people waiting to convert, Hutcherson said.

Fifteen people, about half of them UA students, are waiting to convert to Catholicism this Easter at the Catholic Newman Center, Hutcherson said.

Though church members are preparing for Easter, they probably won't be seen decorating any eggs or hanging bright banners during Lent.

"Lent is generally a somber time without many colors or decorations," Hutcherson said. "At the Newman Center, there will be no flowers and only one dull purple and gray banner to contrast with the beautiful decorations and music of Easter."

Ben Larson, acting director of Presbyterian Campus Ministries, said there were about 60 or 70 people last Wednesday at the evening service at Campus Christian Ministries, which included students from Episcopalian, Lutheran and Methodist faiths.

Some Baptist students practice Lent individually, but it is not traditionally followed as a denomination, said Eddy Pearson, director of Baptist Collegiate Ministries at the Refuge.

"We're all for it, though," Pearson said.

People who participate in Lent can use the time to grow as a faith community, but most people agree Lent is primarily a personal experience, Hutcherson said.

Nancy Koppy, a history and creative writing junior, said last year was life changing and Lent, "took on a new sort of significance."

"A sacrifice so seemingly insignificant as giving up sweets is a small sacrifice compared to what Jesus sacrificed for us," Koppy said. "But every time I crave sugar, I can be reminded of that."

Gabriel Bustamante, a family studies junior who went to Catholic school for 13 years, said practicing Lent at the UA is not much different than at a private school, but students of other beliefs express theirs more openly.

"There are so many faiths on campus, such as Jewish, Muslim or atheist, and I think that is more freely accepted," Bustamante said.

However, people aren't informed enough about the important practices of different faiths, Bustamante said. He said he was slightly shocked last Wednesday when a student asked about the ashes on his forehead.

"I had to explain it to him," Bustamante said. "That kind of upsets me in a way."

Danielle Smith, a pre-nursing sophomore, said she thinks the physical display of the ashes is a positive experience and causes people to be curious about it.

"There's a sense of connection, because you can identify other people that went to (an Ash Wednesday) service," Smith said, though she agreed she found uninformed people on campus.

"One guy in my class was completely serious when he asked me if they had messed up on my tattoo," Smith said. "Another girl realized it was Ash Wednesday when she saw the ashes, and asked me, in a ditzy way, if I was carrying any extra on me."

"I just told her 'no,' but there were two more services that day she could go to," Smith said, smiling.

Lent, which began on Feb. 9, will continue until March 26, the day before Easter.