Ash Wednesday – 18 February

In our Church ……

ASH WEDNESDAY – 18 February

Ash Wednesday, preceded by Shrove Tuesday is the start of the Lenten period leading up to Easter. It is our holy day of prayer and fasting. This week our Domremy community gathered together to celebrate Ash Wednesday with a liturgy, distribution of Ashes and the launch of Project Compassion. A huge thank you to our Assistant Religious Education Coordinator – Ms Isabella Bechara, Youth Ministry Coordinator – Ms Isabella Soueid, Social Justice Coordinator – Ms Cristina Peros and The Student Leadership Team for organising and overseeing this beautiful Liturgy.

 Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head and symbolise the dust from which God made humanity.  Following tradition, our foreheads are marked with ashes to humble our hearts and reminds us that life passes away on Earth. We remember this when we are told “Remember, You are dust, and unto dust you shall return.”  The ashes also symbolise grief, in this case, grief that we have sinned and caused division from God.  Sin is human and to seek forgiveness and reconciliation is also human.  Therefore, this is a universal invitation, not just one for Catholics…it is a way to acknowledge that we all make mistakes, do things we regret, and need to be reconciled with one another and with the God who blesses us with the fullness of life. 

The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year. The ashes are christened with Holy Water and are scented. While the ashes reflect penance and contrition, they are also a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those with repentant hearts. God’s Divine mercy is of utmost importance during the season of Lent, and the Church calls on us to seek that mercy during the entire Lenten season with reflection, prayer and penance. 

Adapted, with additions from:  https://www.catholic.org/lent/ashwed.php

Mrs Caroline Morizzi – Religious Education Coordinator