Ashes at sunrise — or beyond

Submitted by St. Mary’s Parish Office

This Wednesday will be that unique day during the calendar year when we see many of our friends and co-workers walking around with dark smudges on their foreheads — and they usually are so well-groomed! When and why does this occur? It would be “Ash Wednesday,” the day Christians mark as the beginning of the 40-day penitential Lenten season and on which many observe the ancient tradition of receiving the mark of a cross with ashes on their foreheads.

The ashes come from burning the palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday. Typically, as the ashes are being imposed, the religious leader says a prayer such as: “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” or “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.”

Ash Wednesday this year is February 22, and St. Mary Catholic Church on Main Street invites all friends and neighbors to come to a special “Sunrise Mass” at 7am to begin this season of prayerful preparation for the great feast of Easter by observing this ancient tradition. So regardless of your work schedule or other commitments, you still have an opportunity at the very beginning of your day to attend Holy Mass and receive the Imposition of Ashes.

May non-Catholics attend? Of course. All are welcome to the Holy Mass. And all are welcome to receive ashes. The only part of Mass that is reserved for practicing Catholics who are not aware of serious sin is the reception of Holy Communion. As the word “communion” suggests, this is for those in union with the Catholic Church. But that need not keep anyone away from the Mass or from the mark of ashes, for communion time can be simply a time for quiet prayer if you are not receiving, no matter the reason.

Respecting the fact that many people need to get to work, the Sunrise Mass will be relatively brief; that is, there will be no hymns and no sermon. Or if your schedule permits, there also will be Masses with the Imposition of Ashes (and hymns and a sermon) at 8:30am and 7pm. Please consider taking this opportunity to begin Ash Wednesday — and all of Lent — with this holy reminder of the cross.

St. Mary’s is the lovely little fieldstone church located in the Village just west of downtown, directly across from the Gazebo. For more information, please call the parish office at 734-428-8811.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.