When fire catches on to one thing, it spreads until the whole object it has latched onto is engulfed in its hot flames. Once the fire has taken dominance, it is hard to put out and only strives to grow larger and take over more areas.
While some may think of this definition as the physical flame of fire, others view this term more metaphorically, in terms of faith.
During Lent last year, Fr. Luke Rawicki and Fr. Mike Shuetz started a Lenten group called F.I.R.E, with Fire standing for Faith In Real Environments. The group of about 80 driven students met during Friday lunches each week to discuss a topic having to do with spiritual growth during this sacred time of year. The group was given daily commitments including saying a decade of the rosary, reading and journaling the daily readings, and at least one day of daily mass a week.
The few students who carried these commitments from the beginning of Lent until the Easter season changed.
“I see it,” said Rawicki, “When students hear other students, that gives them motivation and permission to live out their faith.”
After FIRE wrapped up at the end of Lent, attendance skyrocketed at daily Mass, Encounter Bible study, and Spiritual Life events. Students discovered new perspectives and a deeper love for Christ through interactions with other devoted students.
“I started to see more and more FIRE students be a part of Spiritual Life events,” said Rawicki.
During lunch, most students spend time eating and hanging out with friends, especially on Fridays, talking about weekend plans and upcoming events. On Fridays during FIRE, this was not the case. FIRE members spent their time discussing the weekly chapter, challenges they’ve been having, and overall opening up about their faith.
“I just got to know those people really well, and you got to help each other out on our Lenten journey and just keep each other in check,” said senior Bryce Fitzsimmons.
Through FIRE, students formed Christ-centered relationships with people they had never interacted with. FIRE brought together students and educators to find a greater good in the Lenten season.
Rawicki was impressed with this outcome and strived to have FIRE and the love of Christ engulf more students, so he and the Spiritual Life department began planning what soon became known as FIRE flex.
This time, instead of FIRE being led by educators, it was led by students. Students in each flex period who signed up to be a part of this got separated into their official FIRE flex group. These students created bonds with each other by spending time each week reading the assigned book. The book was The Frassati Field Guide, an 8-day Ascent to Heroic Virtue.
Every week, students would individually read a chapter, then, as a group, plan a day to meet and discuss.
Here is a quick summary of what the book is about: The book follows the footsteps of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati and his journey to Sainthood. Throughout his life, Frassati was a joyful servant of Christ and an adventurer. This book is not just words on paper; it is a calling and a guide to holiness.
“FIRE helped me realize that Saints are ordinary people who can do extraordinary things, and I feel like that is just a lesson for everyone and has helped me grow so much in my faith and closer to others,” said period four FIRE flex member Emi Schweitzer.
Students grew in relationship with one another, but also in their personal selves. By the end of the eight weeks of meetings and discussions on Frassati’s guide, students were truly changed.
As Ash Wednesday is approaching, the sign-ups for Lent 2026 FIRE are out and open for all those who are open to growing and committing to their faith.
