Local

: Published: 26 February 2022

: Published: 02 March 2022

Cathedral full of penitents receiving ashes marks the beginning of Lent

CHARLOTTE — It’s been two years since Catholics have turned out in large numbers on Ash Wednesday to mark the beginning of Lent by receiving ashes on their heads. As COVID-19 health restrictions have been relaxed, however, churches were filled with parishioners for this year’s observance on March 2.

Bishop Peter Jugis celebrated Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte and, despite the liturgy’s somber tone, was pleased to welcome a church full of people – greeting them on the steps of the cathedral after Mass and wishing them a blessed Lent.

During a brief homily before ashes were distributed, Bishop Jugis told everyone gathered, “The ashes which we receive today on our heads are a sign of our sorrow for our sins.”

The ashes are similar to the spoken words of sorrow we recite in confession, when we say, “O, my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee,” referring to the Act of Contrition, he explained.

“We give expression to our sorrow when we go to confession,” he said, and, likewise, Ash Wednesday is an occasion to express sorrow for our sins as we look forward to Easter.

On Ash Wednesday, “the whole season of Lent lies before us, which we have the occasion to purify our hearts, purify our minds and purify our souls through prayer, through fasting, through penance, through almsgiving – so that we are properly prepared at Easter with pure minds, pure hearts and pure souls in order to celebrate the great solemnity of the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday.”

“So it is a time of grace that we begin today – beginning today, expressing our outward sorrow for our sins and, during the whole season of Lent, be about the good work of purifying our hearts, purifying our minds, purifying our souls – so that we are ready, properly prepared to enter the celebration of new life (with) the resurrection of Jesus.”

He then blessed the ashes, sprinkling them with holy water before the parish’s parochial vicar Ernest Nebangongnjoh and Deacon Paul Bruck distributed the ashes to the standing-room-only crowd.

For the second year in a row, ashes were sprinkled on the head rather than placed on the forehead in the shape of a cross, following the bishop’s instruction. This alternative way of commemorating Ash Wednesday is still popular in Rome, and more closely resembles Old Testament tradition.

— SueAnn Howell, Catholic News Herald

St. Mark School students attend Mass on Ash Wednesday. (Photos by Amy Burger)

In Christ the King High School's Ash Wednesday Liturgy of the Word, Deacon Rich called for us to embrace this season of Penance, and to do the right things for the right reasons, because we love the Lord. (Photos via Facebook)

Bishop McGuinness High School students in Kernersville gathered for the beginning of Lent with Ash Wednesday Mass. (Photo via Facebook)

Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in High Point held a drive through ash distribution with more than 200 cars. (Photo via Facebook)

Bishop Peter Jugis celebrated Mass on Ash Wednesday at St. Patrick Cathedral. (Photos by SueAnn Howell, Catholic News Herald)

Bishop Peter Jugis celebrated Mass on Ash Wednesday at St. Patrick Cathedral. (Photos by James Sarkis)

Bishop Peter Jugis celebrated Mass on Ash Wednesday at St. Patrick Cathedral. (Photos by SueAnn Howell, Catholic News Herald)

St. Mark School kindergarten through second grade attended a Liturgy of the Word and Distribution of Ashes in the school library. Father John Putnam was the celebrant. (Photo provided by Amy Burger)

St. Mark Church in Huntersville held Liturgy of the Word and Distribution of Ashes Services. Father Matthew Bean and Deacon Rich McCarron celebrated the 12:10 p.m. (Photo provided by Amy Burger)