Ash Wednesday is one of the most important holy days in the liturgical calendar. Ash Wednesday opens Lent, a season of fasting and prayer.

Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday,Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolize the dust from which God made us.The ashes are made from blessed palm branches, taken from the previous year’s palm Sunday Mass. As the priest applies the ashes to a person’s forehead, he speaks the words “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”

We went to the church today in Ashbourne for a prayer service.  Father Derek and Father Ciaran spoke to us about the importance of Ash Wednesday and different things we could do for Lent. We then got the ashes applied to our foreheads. Well done to the all the boys and girls today on their behaviour in the church. They were all very respectful during the service.