The fete and partying across the Christian world came to a close as Lent started on Ash Wednesday. The faithful headed to mass and other prayers and received the sign of the cross on their forehead at the end of the worship. Parishioners of St. Martin of Tours attended midday mass in Philipsburg with Father Adam Oleszczuk. Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of blessing ashes made from palm branches blessed on the previous year’s Palm Sunday, and placing them on the heads of participants to the accompaniment of the words “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” This Andrew Dick photo shows Father Adam placing ash on parishioner Claudwick Peterson.
