Catholics to get ashes to mark start of Lent

Tomorrow, Feb. 17, is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the six-and-a-half week penitential season of Lent.

Lent leads to the greatest feast of the Catholic Church, Easter, which is Sunday, April 4 this year.

On Ash Wednesday, Catholics receive ashes on their foreheads in the sign of the cross, the sign of baptism; to remind them that Lent is a time of baptismal renewal.

These ashes are made from burnt palms left over from the palms distributed on Palm Sunday the year before.

The distribution of ashes will be available at local Catholic churches throughout the area tomorrow.