Dear Parishioners,

You know as well as I that no one is perfect, which of course, includes me. I “jumped the gun” in the PREVIOUS ASH WEDNESDAY DIRECTIVE that is printed in the bulletin and offered as a FLOCKNOTE.

I thought I had the pastor “faculties” to re-direct the ritual for the receiving of ashes for this ASH WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2021 by omitting the ritual in and of itself, in order to keep a clean church. MY MISTAKE. I CANNOT OMIT THIS RITUAL. These directives are global and I cannot choose to omit this ritual as I thought I could in order to keep cleanliness.

Therefore, following the global call to repentance for Ash Wednesday, I will offer ashes as prescribed by the ritual to anyone who comes forward by sprinkling ashes on the top of the head. All will be fine.

Thank you for understanding this ritual during a pandemic.

Those extraordinary ministers of holy communion who plan on taking communion and ashes to the home bound on Ash Wednesday may do so, but, ashes are to be offered only in the described ritual of sprinkling ashes on their head.

Many blessings,
Father Jim