Dear Parents,
2020-21 re-enrollment information will be going home in your kiddie mail envelope on Tuesday, 3/3/2020.
This Wednesday (Ash Wednesday) marks the beginning of Lent. Lent is the 40 days before Easter, in which Catholics pray, fast, contemplate, and engage in acts of spiritual self-discipline. Catholics do these things because Easter, which celebrates the Resurrection of Christ, is the greatest holy day of the Christian year (even above Christmas). The week before Easter we have Holy Week, with Palm Sunday (also called Passion Sunday), Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.
Students will be celebrating Ash Wednesday and receiving ashes at tomorrow's Mass. To answer a couple of common questions:
Why do we put ash on our forehead?
Ashes are applied to our forehead in the sign of the cross as the words "Remember, you are dust and to dust you shall return" are spoken to us. The other formula which is used, "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel," emphasizes our call to continual conversion and holiness of life. This act symbolizes our mortality as well as our need for ongoing repentance. It is a reminder that this life is short.
Where do the ashes come from?
The ashes for Ash Wednesday normally are made from blessed palm branches from the previous Palm Sunday. The ashes are sprinkled with Holy Water and incensed before distribution.
Pope Francis has said,
“Above all, I urge the members of the Church to take up the Lenten journey with enthusiasm, sustained by almsgiving, fasting and prayer.”
