NEWS PHOTO JEREMY APPEL Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education religious education co-ordinator Sandra Richard (right) marks a cross with ash on Kobley Robinson's forehead Wednesday, while both are dressed for Pink Shirt Day.
jappel@medicinehatnews.com@MHNJeremyAppel
This year, Ash Wednesday fell on the same date as Pink Shirt Day, which the separate school board’s religious studies co-ordinator says provides an instructive intersection between the sacred and secular.
Students arrived at Medicine Hat Catholic schools Wednesday in their pink shirts while also getting their foreheads marked with ash crosses for the beginning of Lent.
“They don’t contradict at all. They’re very complimentary,” the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education’s Sandra Richard told the News.
Pink Shirt Day, which is an international event, was created in 2007 after two teenagers in the Maritimes stood up for their peer who was bullied for wearing a pink shirt, which Richard points out is very Christ-like behaviour.
“That’s exactly what Jesus did. He stood up for so many people who were on the margins of society. He always was welcoming and very loving,” she said.
This fits with Ash Wednesday, “a time when we’re asked to come a little bit closer with Jesus, turning away from sin and following the Gospel,” Richard says.
“That’s exactly what the pink shirts represent as well – turning away from doing those things that hurt someone else and following what Jesus would do,” she added.
Ash Wednesday is a fast day, but this doesn’t mean it has to be a sombre experience.
“People should not know that we’re fasting,” Richard said. “If I’m fasting and giving up for the day, or having smaller meals, nobody should know that by my face. I shouldn’t be looking so sombre. I should be joyful in my heart for all Jesus has done for me.”
Although the visual contrast may be striking, the pink shirt and ash cross represent the same sentiment.
“I’m wearing two symbols of my faith,” said Richard. “One symbol, the pink shirt, says that I’m always going to treat some individual with kindness. My shirt says ‘Be kind.’ That’s a model of my faith right there.
“But also I have on my forehead a cross and a cross made of ashes reminds me who I do these things for, and to do all things for the glory of God. That’s also an outward sign of my inner faith.”
