Many Ohio University students celebrate the Easter holiday on campus instead of traveling home. Although some Bobcats may wish to see family and partake in annual traditions, transportation and the short weekend may hinder some students’ ability to do so.
Although nothing can replace the feeling of home, churches and religious groups around Athens are providing Easter services and events to make the holiday still feel personal for those who commemorate the day.
Sam Weinandy is the director of campus ministry and leader of OU Catholics, an organization for Catholic students on campus. As Easter approaches quickly, he shared his remarks on the holiday and the significance it holds, especially on a college campus.
“Easter is hope,” Weinandy said. “In the church, we believe that Christ dies on Good Friday and he rises again three days later … On Sunday, on Easter, we have this hope that there’s nothing we can do to stop the love of God from being on Earth. For students here on campus, we have that hope that no matter how dark the world seems … we have this sort of hope that this (darkness) is not permanent.”
For Christians, this is the traditional origin of the holiday. Over time, new traditions have sprouted, such as decorating eggs, receiving baskets and consuming Easter candy. Although the holiday has evolved, its meaning is still constant for believers.
Xavier Goss, a sophomore studying business, is also involved in OU Catholics. For him, Easter on campus is about being present.
“I think (celebrating on campus) is a really positive thing because at this time in our lives, what is home?” Goss said. “Where we’re from is still a huge part of us, and it always will be, but (OU) is also a little bit of home as well. I think it’s really important to see the family I have right in front of me … and I can celebrate with them, and that matters.”
For Ben Fearn, a sophomore studying mechanical engineering, going home to Akron for Easter means everything.
“Easter is the time everybody shares together,” Fearn said. “It’s a time you should go spend with your family and enjoy the quality time while you have it.”
No matter where students are celebrating the holiday this year, it displays collectivity and exemplifies coming together to enjoy traditions of all sorts.
For Goss, Easter is a time to include those around us and honor the holiday.
“If you look at the (Catholic) church throughout this week, there’s no flowers in the church,” Goss said. “A lot of the statues are veiled, and then at the Easter Vigil Saturday night, there’s a song called ‘The Glory,’ and everything comes to life. That’s the remembrance we have of Jesus rising from the dead. We get to partake in that life as well.”
For Fearn, Easter means a couple of things. Traditions for him look like large family gatherings, meals and enjoying one another’s company, but he also described the spirituality of Easter and the significance it holds to him.
“This is the biggest holiday for Christianity, Catholic, things of that nature,” Fearn said. “That’s what this weekend actually does mean to me, outside of just my family.”
Even for those who choose not to celebrate the holiday, Weinandy explained the new beginnings Easter can offer.
“You think about spring flowers coming up; winter’s finally done,” Weinandy said. “Lent is finally done, school here is getting close to done, and Easter is that hope that pushes you through to summer, pushes you through to break and all of that holds a special place in my heart for Easter and that message of hope.”
For students looking for ways to experience the holiday while staying on campus, OU Catholics aims to provide an open, welcoming environment.
“Everyone’s faith changes from high school to college to adulthood onward,” Weinandy said. “We want to be a space that people always feel welcome to come to, that they feel like if they walk in the door just on Easter and that’s the only time they’re here for the whole year, they are welcome to be here. The community wants them here, not just for our sake, but for their sake because we believe they get to encounter that hope … that hope of Easter, the hope of Christ.”
OU Catholics gather at the Holy Family Center, located at 75 Stewart St. On Good Friday, the club will hold a Stations of the Cross devotion at noon at Christ the King University Parish, 141 Mill St., as well as Mass at 7 p.m. at St. Paul Catholic Church, 38 N. College St.
Both events will also be held at Sacred Heart Church and Rectory in Pomeroy, 161 Mulberry Ave. Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil is taking place at 8:30 p.m. at Christ the King and Sacred Heart, and Easter Sunday Mass will be held all day, occurring at 8:30 a.m. and noon at St. Paul, 9:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart, 10 a.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Glouster, 31 Republic Ave., and 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. at Christ the King.
For other religious but non-Catholic students, Christ Community Wesleyan Church, located at 6275 Kenney Memorial Lane, and Brookfield Church, located at 5 N. Court St., are both holding a Good Friday Service on Friday at 6:30 p.m., as well as Easter services on Sunday at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
