The St. Paul Catholic Newman Center announced that Fresno State, along with Fresno Pacific University, Clovis Community College and Fresno City College will hold Ash Wednesday services. 

Fresno State’s service will be at 1 p.m. in the Resnick Student Union Event Plaza. 

Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent in the Catholic faith. During the 40 days of Lent, participants take part in a variety of fasting, prayer and charitable activities to honor Jesus Christ’s sacrifices. 

In the Bible, it says that Jesus Christ spent 40 days and 40 nights in the desert fasting, praying and resisting temptation from the devil before starting a public ministry, thus creating the holy period of Lent.

Lent leads up to Easter, when participants are permitted to consume the food, or use the products  they gave up. 

On Ash Wednesday, participants receive forehead blessings in the sign of a cross at a prayer service or Church Mass and intentionally prepare for the next 40 days. 

Drop-in ashes will be provided all day in the Newman Center for those who cannot make the services.