SALISBURY, Md. - Distributing ashes on Ash Wednesday may be a little different this year.
Ash Wednesday is Feb. 17.
Father Christopher LaBarge of Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Salisbury says ashes will be sprinkled over a person's head, rather than smudged on their forehead. In this COVID world, it's a much safer and contact-less way to receive ashes.
"I mean that's how we're kind of adapting," LaBarge says, "we're trying to do things that make sense and follow the instruction of the governor and our diocese [Diocese of Wilmington]."
Ashes represent a sign of physical death. "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust".
Parishioners of Saint Francis de Sales say though distribution is different, the message remains the same.
"Things on the surface might be a little different, but it's still Lent. It's still a time for us to stop and reflect. Remember God's mercy and take little time to journey a little differently," says Michele Harris.
LaBarge says if the pandemic has taught his parish anything, it's that mass can be celebrated from everywhere and it's not just restricted to a physical church building.
"Over the past year, we've kind of learned a new way to be church. We've become far more technical," says LaBarge after Ash Wednesday services, "the fact is, we basically have live-streamed our 8:30 mass with our school children every Wednesday so they can receive communion and be part of our worshiping community without exceeding our capacity [50% indoor capacity].
LaBarge says "Catholics, for many, many years, we came to church because we had to come to church, but basically, for the last year, the bishop [Reverend W. Francis Malooy] says you don't have to come to church so the people who are here are here because they want to be and I think that makes a difference."