Many Catholic students across both campuses started the countdown to Easter on Wednesday by attending services and marking their foreheads with ash in observance of Ash Wednesday.
Ash Wednesday always occurs 40 days before Easter Sunday every year, and the period between the two is known as Lent.
The ashes made from palm leaves are a reminder of mortality and penitence, said Reverend Patrick Keleher, director of the Newman Center and head of the campus Catholic ministries.
Keleher has worked at UB for 17 years and said he enjoys working with the university community.
"A university is a place for people to discuss ideas and learn about each other," Keleher said. "The whole universe is here."
Nearly 800 people attended Keleher's two masses in the Student Union Flag Room at noon and 5 p.m. During the service, Keleher led students in prayer and song and then crossed their foreheads with ashes before they took communion.
Keleher said the trick behind making long-lasting crosses is using just the right mix of water and ash.
"I add a lot of water so it really stays on there," he said. "If you just use dry ashes it comes off too easily."
Sarah Hodges, a sophomore English major, said the black cross of ashes on her forehead usually doesn't attract too many stares.
"Occasionally people are like, 'You've got something on your forehead.' But they're usually pretty cool about it," she said.
Ash Wednesday and Lent have a history that dates back to the fifth century, which Keleher said is fairly late in the development of Christian traditions.
"Lent didn't actually come about until the fifth century which is fairly late if you think about it," Keleher said. "That's over four hundred years. The tradition of fasting may have started due to economic reasons. It's toward the end of winter, people's food is starting to run out and next year's harvest hasn't started yet. It may have been a way to get people to conserve food."
In addition to fasting, Keleher said during Lent people should give charity to the poor and pray more. Students who attended services said they appreciated having the opportunity to go on campus.
"I live in the area and I usually go to masses near my house, but I didn't know what time the services were this year so it was more convenient to come to the Student Union," said Charday Fields, a freshman who attended the 5 p.m. mass. "I liked this mass because the priest was very eccentric. I could understand him well and he kept you focused."
Lent is also traditionally known as a time for fasting, penitence and reflection. For many observers it is a time to try living without something they've grown accustomed to.
"I'm giving up soda for Lent," Fields said. "I'm an avid pop drinker."
While giving up sweets or fried foods can benefit an individual, Keleher said that the practices of Lent are "things that could change the world."
"This Lent, fast from all the nonsense," Keleher said. "Don't watch CNN, it's all paid for by large corporations. Get on the Internet, read a Third World newspaper. Read a page in the Koran, and think about the children our bombs have killed. Go places you've never gone. Do something you've never done."
Hodges, who attended Wednesday's mass, said she's been attending masses regularly at UB since her freshman year.
"I really like UB's services," Hodges said. "Father Pat is a great priest and I really enjoy listening to him. He relates well to people our age."
Hodges, however, said she won't be giving up anything for Lent.
"I don't do anything specifically, but I try to use it as a time to think of the bigger picture," she said.
Echoing Hodges, Keleher said above all he hopes people use this Lent to make positive changes.
"What I hope people take away from this mass is the inspiration to change the world, to make their world bigger both inside and out," he said.
