Ash Wednesday

We start today the Lenten season with the celebration of Ash Wednesday. We burned the palms last week, so that we can have the ashes we use today, to remind us of two important things: our mortality and our need to repent and turn to God. Whereby the priest or minister will say as he imposes ashes: “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return,” or “Turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

People receive the black ashes on their foreheads, but in European countries, the ashes are usually burned from olive branches, which become brownish ashes, and they are placed on the top of the head of each person. Either way, this is time to start our penitential journey, and do more praying, more penance and less of the negatives that people are often guilty of.  I encourage as many parishioners as possible to attend daily Mass whenever possible, and the Stations of the Cross every Friday at 7 PM in the new church.

Pope Benedict receiving the ashes last year