Southwest Montana News

Throughout Lent 2025, eight students from Carroll College have been leading reflections after Mass at Our Lady of the Valley parish each Tuesday evening. This initiative allows students to share spiritual insights from their personal faith journeys and generational perspectives. Fr. Bart Tolleson proposed the idea, leading Dr. Eric Hall, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Theology, and Catholic Studies, to gather students who regularly engage in theological discussions to develop a plan for the series.

Their reflections aim to bridge generational gaps by focusing on the spiritual hopes and struggles of today’s young adults. "The goal is to create connection," said Dr. Hall. "Reminding us that we are united in Christ, and offering the parish community someone to pray for as these students begin their journey."

To date, Andrew Devine and Celi Chapman have reflected on Ezekiel 36:26, "I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."

Andrew Devine, a senior philosophy major from Wasilla, AK, expressed gratitude for the opportunity, stating: "I wanted to do this because we don’t often get opportunities to speak and engage with our spiritual elders as much as we’d like when at Carroll. So I’m grateful to OLV for giving me this opportunity. They were very welcoming and appreciative."

The series aims to continue throughout Lent, facilitating an exchange of wisdom and faith. Celi Chapman, a sophomore majoring in political science and philosophy from Clancy, MT, shared her experience: “It was great to get to talk to the parishioners at OLV on Tuesday! The parishioners were so excited to hear from young people about the faith. In my Lenten reflection on Ezekiel 36:26, I’ve been praying about how the Lord desires to give us a heart of flesh—especially through our wounds and sufferings this Lent ... It was fruitful to reflect on something I myself am still wrestling with in this setting of fellowship, and I hope it was fruitful for those listening."