Erie Residents Give Up Habits for Lent

Chocolate, caffeine and social media are common sacrifices as the religious season begins.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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As Lent gets underway in Erie, Pennsylvania, many residents are giving up various habits and indulgences as part of the religious tradition. While some are forgoing things like chocolate, caffeine, and social media scrolling, the meaning behind the sacrifices goes deeper for many, connecting to the 40-year journey of the Israelites from slavery to the promised land.

Why it matters

Lent is an important religious observance for Christians, as it represents a period of reflection, discipline, and preparation for the Easter holiday. The personal sacrifices made by Erie residents during this time are a way for them to connect with their faith and the broader meaning of the season.

The details

Erie residents are giving up a variety of habits and indulgences for Lent, including chocolate, caffeine, and social media use. For some, the sacrifices go beyond just breaking a habit, as they see it as a way to become better people and draw closer to their faith. Church-goer Emma Heinlein said she is giving up trying not to gossip as much, while Mary Clare Gallagher is giving up social media and trying to attend mass more frequently.

  • Lent began on February 17, 2026 and will continue through Easter Sunday on April 5, 2026.

The players

Father Christopher Singer

The chancellor of the Erie Diocese, who explained the origins of the Lenten tradition and how it parallels the 40-year journey of the Israelites.

Emma Heinlein

An Erie church-goer who said she is giving up trying not to gossip as much and trying to be a better person during Lent.

Mary Clare Gallagher

An Erie resident who is giving up social media and trying to attend mass more frequently during Lent.

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What they’re saying

“But in many years, it parallels the 40 years that the Israelite people spent in the desert as they were being led from slavery in Egypt to the freedom and the promised land.”

— Father Christopher Singer, Chancellor of the Erie Diocese (yourerie.com)

“I think just like, having it in our heads that we're doing this because he died for us, it just gives us a good representation of how he died, so we can live for our sins to be free so”

— Mary Clare Gallagher (yourerie.com)

What’s next

Lent will continue through Easter Sunday on April 5, 2026, with many Erie residents continuing their personal sacrifices and religious observances during this time.

The takeaway

The Lenten sacrifices made by Erie residents demonstrate the deep personal and spiritual meaning behind this religious tradition, as they seek to connect with their faith, become better versions of themselves, and prepare for the celebration of Easter.