Ash Wednesday Services Attract Hundreds
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Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Ash Wednesday is a day of repentance. It marks the beginning of 40 days of prayer and fasting leading up to Easter. Catholics observe the day by fasting, not eating meat and getting ashes. “Remember that you are dust and unto dust you will return,” said Father Thomas Kirk of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. “Ash Wednesday means to me preparing our souls and minds for Easter when Jesus comes and repenting of sins that we have done so that we will become closer to God,” said student Amber Hayden. Usually a person will keep the ash on their forehead until it wears off. Sometimes people think the ash is dirt. “Typically I will just ignore it. I know in my mind that it’s right and I believe in ashes upon my head. No matter what anyone says it doesn’t really make a difference to me because it’s what I believe in,” said student Michael Saia. There are currently 78 million Catholics in the United States, the largest single religious denomination in the country. 25 percent of the population in the U.S are Catholics. “Many Catholics and other congregations come out on Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is one of most attended liturgies in the whole church year,” said Father Kirk. Ash Wednesday is also observed by Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists and Presbyterians.
