Today marks the first day of the Lenten season.

“It’s a wake-up call spiritually,” said the Rev. Steve Knox of the Newman Catholic Student Center. “People focus on the need for repentance.”

The Newman Center will hold five masses today for Ash Wednesday. Knox said he expects about 1,500 people to come throughout the day.

People with parking passes at the Newman Center are asked not to park their cars in the lot today.

Knox said even staff members of the church are asked to park farther away, so there will be room for parishioners and others who wish to participate in the services.

Knox, along with the Rev. Addison Hart and the Rev. Mike Black, will conduct the services.

During the service, participants will receive an ash mark on their forehead, which Knox said is a sign of mortality.

Also during Lent, people give something up or fast. That sacrifice should help people move closer to God, Knox said.

“People want to spend more time in prayer,” he said.

During the Lenten season, the Newman Center will collect items for different local agencies.

For the first weekend, the church is asking for canned food items that will be donated to the DeKalb County Food Pantry.

Throughout the month, it also will collect items for the Safe Passage Women’s Center, Illinois Youth Correctional Facility, DeKalb County Nursing Home and the DeKalb County Hospice.

The weekend Mass times will remain the same during the Lenten season. Additional services will be added throughout the week. A schedule can be found at the Newman Center.