Ash Wednesday Starts Lent 2021 In Danbury

DANBURY, CT — Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent that's celebrated primarily in the Catholic faith, is on Feb. 17 in 2021. Churches in Danbury have ash services scheduled for the day.

On Ash Wednesday, observers of the day will have ashes applied in the shape of a cross to their foreheads. In many cases, people will wear the crosses throughout the rest of the day to publicly express their faith.

The ashes symbolize penance, mourning and mortality. Typically, the priest will apply the ashes while saying, "Remember you are dust, and unto dust you shall return."

The ashes are prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year's Palm Sunday celebration, which falls every year on the Sunday before Easter.

The administration of ashes this year will be different due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Vatican has said.

The priest will bless the ashes and sprinkle them with holy water in silence, according to the new guidance on the holiday. He will then address the crowd and recite once the formula found in the Roman Missal: "Repent, and believe in the Gospel" or "Rememberer that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

The ashes will be sprinkled on each person's head without the priest saying anything, the Vatican's pandemic guidance states.

The pandemic may affect services planned at local churches in other ways, too. Be prepared to wear a face covering and practice social distancing if in-person services are taking place.

Here is a list of churches in Danbury offering special services for Ash Wednesday:

Sacred Heart of Jesus, 46 Stone Street: Mass will be celebrated at 7:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., and the Liturgy of the Word will be held at noon and 5:30 p.m.

St. Peter Catholic Church, 104 Main Street: Ash Wednesday Masses are being offered at 7:30 a.m. and noon. There will also be a Liturgy of the Word with imposition of ashes at 9:00 a.m. Priests will also be in the church from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to impose ashes on a walk-in basis (no registration required).

St. Joseph Church, 8 Robinson Avenue: Ashes will be distributed during Mass at 7:00 a.m. (in person and online), 9:00 a.m. (in person), 12:05 p.m. (in person and online), 6:00 PM TLM (in person).

St. Gregory the Great, 85 Great Plain Road: Ashes will be distributed during Masses at 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., noon and 5:30 p.m.

Lent is a religious period chiefly observed by Catholics, although many other Christians also observe the 40-day span that serves as time of reflection and restraint in the build-up to Easter.

Many people take part in fasting and/or giving up certain luxuries or pleasures during the period to commemorate the sacrifices made by Christ.

Lent this year will end on Saturday, April 3.