Mass Times for Ash Wednesday, February 17
6:30 a.m. • 12:05 p.m. – Live Streamed
5:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Blessed Ashes will be distributed at all Masses following guidelines outlined below.
MODIFICATION OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF ASHES
Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and
Discipline of the Sacraments, has issued this instruction on the modification of the distribution of ashes for this year. It follows the ancient and biblical custom of sprinkling ashes on the top of the head. Ashes are not to be distributed by touching the forehead, either with the hand or other instrument.
After blessing the ashes and sprinkling them with holy water in silence, the priest addresses those present, reciting once the formula found in the Roman Missal: “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return”.
At that point, the priest “cleanses his hands, puts on a face mask, and distributes ashes to those who come to him or, if appropriate, he goes to those who are standing in their places.”
He then sprinkles the ashes on each person’s head “without saying anything.”