(Submitted by St. Aloysius School)
On March 5 students at St. Aloysius School will celebrate Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) with their annual carnival in Hartmann Hall. Students will be able to purchase tickets for 25 cents each and use them to play games or buy chances to win a raffle prize.
Parent volunteers help run the games and the raffle. Two classes at a time will come to the gym at a time to participate in the festivities.
In keeping with the Lenten practice of almsgiving, all proceeds from ticket sales are donated to missions that address child poverty.
Mardi Gras, the day before Ash Wednesday, which signals the beginning of Lent, is celebrated the world over. Also known as Carnival (“Farewell to Flesh”) the day was traditionally the last opportunity to use – and use up -the meat, fat, and sugar that the faithful abstained from during the 40 days of Lent.
Today’s Catholics fast and abstain only during certain days during Lent, but still observe Mardi Gras. Prayer, penance, and almsgiving also still characterize Lent for contemporary Catholics and other Christians. St. Aloysius’ school carnival preserves the celebratory aspect of the day while keeping in mind those less fortunate.
St Aloysius School offers faith-centered instruction for students from preschool to grade eight. It provides not only rigorous academics but also religious studies, weekly liturgical celebrations, and extracurricular opportunities including parish CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) sports.
The school admits students of any race, color, religion, or ethnic origin. Supported by the Diocese of Toledo, St. Aloysius is fully accredited through the Ohio Catholic Schools Accrediting Association. More information on St. Aloysius School is available at www.stalschoolbg.org .
