CTK Parish Celebrates a Solemn Ash Wednesday, February 14

February 14, Ash Wednesday, opened the 2018 Lenten Season, a season of fasting, prayer and alms-giving. It came much earlier than last year’s Ash Wednesday which was celebrated on March 1, 2017. Interestingly, Ash Wednesday coincided with Valentine’s Day.

Ash Wednesday is one of the most popular and important holy days in the liturgical calendar and it takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday (40 days not counting the Sundays). It comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head, symbolizing the dust from which God made us and reminds us that life passes away on Earth. As the priest or Eucharistic Minister applies the ashes to a person’s forehead, he speaks the words: “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” Ashes also symbolize grief, in this case, grief that we have sinned and caused division from God. Writings from the Second-century Church refer to the wearing of ashes as a sign of penance. The ashes are made from blessed palm branches, taken from the previous year’s palm Sunday Mass.

The Lenten season is one of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.

It was ‘full house’ at the CTK main church in all the masses, especially the 10:30 am and 12 noon masses, with parking areas all filled up, including street side. Fr. Serge Maniba officiated the 10:30 am mass and was assisted with ash imposition by a full complement of Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Eucharist.