PANAJI: This Ash Wednesday, the first during the Covid-19 pandemic in India, priests will sprinkle ashes on the heads of each faithful and avoid all contact. Traditionally, the priest, after blessing the ashes, makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of each individual, and recites ‘Dust thou art, and to dust thou shall return’ to each person.
This year, however, the Archdiocese of Goa has instructed priests to say it just once for the congregation.
“The priest then cleanses his hands, puts on a face mask and distributes the ashes to those who come to him, or, if appropriate, he goes to those who are standing in their places. The priest takes the ashes and sprinkles them on the head of each one without saying anything,” states the note from the Vatican that the Archdiocese of Goa has circulated to all parish priests in the state.
Family members who cannot physically attend services on Ash Wednesday can collect the blessed ashes from their respective parishes and take them home for their family members, since churches are only permitted to accommodate a maximum of 200 persons at a time, said director of the diocesan centre for liturgy, Fr Afonso Mendonca.
The centre has provided families with a short prayer service, where the head of the family can apply the ashes on the foreheads of family members who couldn’t attend Mass. “People have a lot of devotion to the Holy Ash, and this marks the start of the Lenten season in the Church,” he said.
“Generally, the celebration of the Eucharist and other Lenten practices associated with this day are given very high importance by the faithful. However, in reality, very few faithful in each parish will be able to attend the celebration of the Eucharist on this day. Hence, the Ashes could be distributed at home….” Mendonca said in the communication.