Ash Wedneday

Distribution of Ashes

St. Joseph Catholic Church

344 Elm Street, Wyandotte

February 10, 2016

7:00 – 7:30 a.m. Simple service of distribution of ashes

12 Noon Mass with ashes

7:00 – 7:30 p.m. Simple service of distribution of ashes

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 cheifly 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.”