After wrapping up her daily homework assignments, Hilary Wyllie of Bend typically spends some of her free time on the computer. Though she doesn’t consider herself an avid gamer, the 12-year-old said she spends a good chunk of time in front of a monitor.

“My favorite website is called addictinggames.com,” she said. “I don’t really have a favorite game, but I play a lot of different stuff.”

For the next few weeks, though, Hilary has to figure out a new way to pass the time.

Hilary and her family are participating in the Lent season and have given up all video games for 40 days, a sacrifice that may be harder to deal with for her siblings, who range in age from 14 to 3. Her mother, Rosy Wyllie, 41, said the family of eight is used to giving up the same thing together. Last year, they avoided watching television and movies.

“It just helps us a lot and keeps us accountable,” she said. “It’s harder for the little ones if not everyone is giving up the same thing.”

In order to sustain the commitment not to play video games, the Wyllies make an effort to interact more. They play board games as a family and listen to music together.

“It helps us remember what’s important,” Wyllie said.

Lent is a 40-day season preceding Easter that invites Christians to explore their faith and reflect on their commitment to live a religious life. This year, Lent started Feb. 22.

“The Lent penitential season begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter Sunday,” said Bishop William Skylstad, who is serving as administrator for the Catholic Diocese of Baker, headquartered in Bend. “We participate in practices that would assist us in deepening our relationship with God and one another.”

Traditionally, on Ash Wednesday, a person is marked with ashes in the shape of a cross on his or her forehead, and is reminded to “remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return,” Skylstad said.

“Ash Wednesday is meant to represent mortality,” Skylstad said. “It is very symbolic and significant to people. Our lives are always on a journey of transformation to the point of death.”

The seven-week season of penance, fasting and abstinence leads to Holy Week, commemorating the passion and death of Jesus Christ, which culminates in celebration of his resurrection on Easter, Skylstad said.

“Holy Week leads to the feast of Easter,” Skylstad said. “It’s a wonderful day of hope and joy.”

Those who participate in Lent make a commitment to give up vices for the duration of the season as a form of penitence.

“Some give up things like sweets, television or go on a diet. People give up things to express discipline,” Skylstad said.

Robert Gilman, 42, of Bend, and his two boys gave up candy this year. Gilman said he uses the Lent season to teach his sons about sacrifice.

“I don’t eat chocolate, and it’s hard,” said 9-year-old Jayden. “But, I never miss it.”

Skylstad said he has given up the same thing for more than half a dozen years: He goes without music for 40 days.

“It’s not easy. I have satellite radio in my car and I spend a lot of time in it,” he said. “But, it’s a time for renewal. It is meant to give us the opportunity of checking out our spiritual journey.”

For Irene Richardson, 82, of Bend, Lent is a time to serve others more.

“The most important part is to try to be more serving, prayerful and to give to the community more. We tend to do this more during Lent, but we should try to do this year-round.”

Jean McCarthy, 55, of Bend, sees the Lent season as an opportunity to spread awareness of selfless acts and the importance of giving.

“I’m trying to serve according to the example of our Lord,” she said. “I’m trying to inform that Lent is a time of reflection and going within oneself and see if one can improve to help others and spread the word of our Lord.”

McCarthy said she involves her family in making an effort to share with the community.

“Now is a good time a year to clean out the closets and try to remind the family that other people are in need,” she said.

While the sacrifices and experience of Lent differ from person to person, Skylstad said the primary motivator is the same.

“It’s about what it does to a person’s soul,” he said. “It’s something deeper, and for some of us, it’s a lifelong journey.”