WITH less COVID-19 restrictions now imposed in several parts of the country, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday advised parishes to be prepared as it expects the faithful to troop to churches today for the observance of Ash Wednesday.
“Let us ensure that there are enough ministers and ashes as well as the compliance with health protocols,” Bishop Victor Bendico, chair of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Liturgy, said in a statement.
Today, the Catholic Church is observing Ash Wednesday which marks the start of the 40-day Lenten Season.
The event is marked by the practice of the placing of ashes on the faithful, with the ashes symbolizing dust from which God made the people.
According to the CBCP’s guidelines for Lent and Holy Week, churches will resume the practice of placing cross ash on the forehead of the faithful.
But, as practiced amid the COVID-19, “the sprinkling of ashes on the crown will remain an option.”
The one-time utterance of the “Repent, and believe in the Gospel,” or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” by the one imposing the ashes is retained.
