No ashes — Ash Wednesday will look markedly different this year
San Antonio Catholic churches will change the way they distribute ashes on Ash Wednesday due to the pandemic.
Ahna Ziegler on Unsplash
COVID-19 has altered life as we know it — and this year, that means area Catholics will mark Ash Wednesday differently.
Following a decision from the Vatican about the distribution of ashes on Ash Wednesday, Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, MSPS, is directing all parishes in the archdiocese follow these new guidelines this year.
“Priests or other additional ministers — all in face masks — will sprinkle ashes on each person’s head in silence. This is a variation from the customary practice of tracing a sign of the cross on the person’s forehead in ashes. These changes are needed due to COVID -19 safety protocols,” said the Archdiocese of San Antonio in a statement to MySA.
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On Ash Wednesday, the official start of the Lenten season, ashes will be distributed every other hour at San Fernando Cathedral in order to have the time to sanitize the sanctuary. Before the pandemic, ashes were usually distributed every hour during the day.
Check with your church before going.
Ash Wednesday falls on Feb. 17.
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