Ash Wednesday - February 22
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning
of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which
prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter
Sunday, through which we attain redemption.
Why we receive the ashes -
Our foreheads are marked with
ashes to humble our hearts and reminds us that life passes away on
Earth. We remember this when we are told
"Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return" or
“Turn
away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.”
Ashes
are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, and they
help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice.
The Ashes - The ashes are
made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous
year. The ashes are christened with Holy Water and are scented by exposure to
incense. While the ashes symbolize penance and contrition, they are also a
reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him with
repentant hearts. His Divine mercy is of utmost importance during the season of
Lent, and the Church calls on us to seek that mercy during the entire Lenten
season with reflection, prayer and penance.
Schedule
7:00 am
- Word Service
8:30 am
- Mass
12:15
pm - Word Service
4:00-
8:00 pm - Continual Bilingual Word Service
Explanation of Continual Word Service
- Ashes will be distributed continually throughout the
service with pauses for slow periods. Each rotation lasts about 20 minutes.
You may come and go as you please. We hope that you will spend some time in
meditation to hear the readings and listen to the music. The format
for the service is as follows:
Reading (English)
Reading (Spanish)
Song (English)
Song (Spanish)
Repeat
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