Ash Wednesday and Lent

Shrove Tuesday

Long ago this was a day for feasting and having a good time. People would go to church to confess the bad things they had done and would be 'shriven' or forgiven before the start of Lent. Since rich foods such as eggs were forbidden during Lent, one way of using them up would be to make pancakes. Next Tuesday we will celebrate Shrove Tuesday by having our  Family Pancake Night and we would love you to join us!

Ash Wednesday-The first day of Lent

Ash Wednesday is one of the most popular and important holy days in the liturgical calendar. Ash Wednesday opens Lent, a season of fasting and prayer.

Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday and is chiefly observed by Catholics, although many other Christians observe it too.

Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolize the dust from which God made us. As the priest applies the ashes to a person’s forehead, he speaks the words: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust, you shall return.”

Alternatively, the priest may speak the words, “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”

Writings from the Second-century Church refer to the wearing of ashes as a sign of penance.

Priests administer ashes during Mass and all are invited to accept the ashes as a visible symbol of penance. The ashes are made from blessed palm branches, taken from the previous year’s Palm Sunday Mass.

On Wednesday we will join with the parish to celebrate mass to celebrate Ash Wednesday at 9:15am at St. Mary's. We would love you to join us.