BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) – Ash Wednesday services are being held Wednesday with some pandemic-era changes.
The biggest change this year was the way the ashes are applied. Typically, a priest or deacon would dip his finger in a bowl of ashes and smudge the ashes on each parishioner’s forehead. Not so this year, says the Boston Archdiocese.
Some priests are taking the ashes and sprinkling them on each parishioner’s head. Others are using long cotton swabs to administer the ashes.
Father Paul Soper, the Archdiocese’s Secretary for Evangelization and Discipleship says he understands how hard it has been to be separate from one’s church community during the pandemic.
“This is impacting people on a very personal level, on a very visceral level,” he said.
Still, Soper said there were other ways to observe Ash Wednesday.
“Fasting has always gone along with ashes. If you’re healthy enough to do this, that is a similar representation of devotion,” he said.
WBZ’s Chris Fama (@CFamaWBZ) has more:
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