Catholics Observe Ash Wednesday

On Ash Wednesday, people go to mass to get ashes in the sign of a cross on their foreheads. News 25’s Gina Tomlinson went to St. Alphonsus Catholic Church to learn more about Ash Wednesday.
“From dust we came, and to dust we shall return.” That’s what father Micheal Snyder from St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Ocean Springs says the embers of palms represent on Ash Wednesday. “In the Old Testament it was a sign of penance, a sign of mourning, and a sign of offering themselves to God.”
Today is the start of Lent. It’s a period of 40 days and 40 nights before Easter when Catholics practice abstinence and fasting. Father Mike says people observing Lent should offer something up they like but that doesn’t mean overdoing themselves. “God doesn’t want us to hurt ourselves. He wants us to become in touch with the fact that we don’t live by bread alone.”
Aiming to be more like Jesus, Catholics will generally sacrifice something during Lent. News 25 went out and talked with people about what they’re giving up.
“I am only going to be drinking water. No soft drinks, no orange juice, no milk. Only water,” said church parishioner Emily Garner.
“I am going to try real hard to give up Facebook because I think I’m addicted to it,” said church parishioner Regina Ryan.
But, not all people observing Lent are giving something up. Church parishioner Rose Skelton said, “I usually try and do a little extra instead of giving up. I try to get to mass a few or three times extra during the week and sort of be more charitable to the poor and things like that.”
“I’m going to increase my prayer life and do a better job of working with my grandchildren and their prayer life,” said church parishioner Cheryl Williams.
The ashes come from the palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration from last year.

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