SCENES FROM ASH WEDNESDAY AROUND THE DIOCESE

On Ash Wednesday, March 1, Catholics and other Christians wore the sign of the cross in ashes on their
foreheads, bearing witness to their belief in the sorrow for sins and preparing for a season of repentance which ends
with the bright celebration of Easter.

Fr. Cecil Corneille and Deacon Guillermo Huertas at St. Joseph Church
on St. Croix.

The ashes used in this ceremony
were made by burning the remains of
the palms blessed on the Palm
Sunday of the previous year. Four
ancient prayers were prayed in the
blessing of the ashes. The ashes were
sprinkled with holy water and
fumigated with incense. The priest
or deacon, dipping his thumb into
the ashes, marked the sign of the
cross on the forehead of each person,
saying "Remember, you are dust and
unto dust you shall return" or "Tum
away from sin and be faithful to the
gospel."

Fr. Troy Schuster and Deacon William Summer at Our Lady
of Perpetual Help Church on St. Thomas.

Fr. John Mark and Fr. Alphonso Olive, CSsR, at Ss. Peter
and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas.

Fr. Charles Crespo of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on
St. John, celebrated two Masses and two prayer services in
the church and then stood outside the church to continue
imposing ashes.

Rev. Dr. George Franklin at St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas.

THE CATHOLIC ISLANDER" APRIL 2006* 9