I have a friend (who shall not be named) who used to tell about being sent to Church on Ash Wednesday by her mom, and how she would skip out and snag some ashes from her mother’s ashtray to smear a cross on her own forehead to cover her tracks. I love that story!
This year, though, she might not have gotten away with this old trick… this year, Ash Wednesday will feel and look a little different. This year, instead of a cross of ashes on our foreheads, at MQOA you’ll receive a sprinkling of ashes on the crown of your head.
Personally, I think this makes a lot of sense- the meaning of the symbol of ashes remains, but it shifts the focus from between we, the ash-bearers, and other people, to being between us and God. Only God will know that we’ve gotten our ashes this year, will know that we approached God’s Church to acknowledge that we are sinners, imperfect, and wanting to do better.
Join us to mark the beginning of Lent this Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2021 by joining Fr. Murray online for Mass at 9:00, then stop by the church during the day to receive your ashes and a blessing. Fr. Murray will be hearing confessions, too, and we’ll have some surprises and resources for you to make this Lent a beautiful season for you.
Find out about all our Lenten offerings at MQOA this year by visiting our Lent page.