Creative New Idea for Ash Wednesday Take Home Ashes - Interview with Bishop Thomas Dowd Explaining his Diocese's Initiative
_In this interview with Bishop Thomas Dowd, of the diocese of Sault Sainte Marie in Northern Ontario, Canada, he explains his new initiative for Ash Wednesday. Bishop Dowd was installed as bishop of Sault-Sainte Marie last Dec. 17, 2020.
Ash Wednesday is an important day for Catholics as
it's the start of Lent. In this video, Bishop Dowd explains the creative new initiative for Ash Wednesday in his diocese during the time of the pandemic.
it's the start of Lent. In this video, Bishop Dowd explains the creative new initiative for Ash Wednesday in his diocese during the time of the pandemic.
Ash Wednesday begins the Lenten period
in the Church. It is a period of repentance and spiritual renewal.
While the churches are expected to be permitted to reopen next week across Northern Ontario, there still remains a capacity restriction as well
as parishioners who feel uncomfortable returning at this time; this is the case in many churches around the world.
Bishop Dowd is encouraging all Catholics to still celebrate Ash Wednesday – the beginning of Lent - in a special way. Parishioners who cannot attend Mass on Ash Wednesday are asked to go to their parishes
(between February 17 and February 28)
to pick up blessed ashes and a prayer service brochure, and pray at home with the members of their household.
The ashes are blessed by a priest at each Catholic parish on Ash Wednesday, and parishioners are encouraged to take home
a small container of the blessed ashes along with a short prayer service to pray together with their family or those in their household.
The short prayer service includes short readings from the Bible, and instructions on how to distribute the ashes. See below for full instructional links from diocese.
in the Church. It is a period of repentance and spiritual renewal.
While the churches are expected to be permitted to reopen next week across Northern Ontario, there still remains a capacity restriction as well
as parishioners who feel uncomfortable returning at this time; this is the case in many churches around the world.
Bishop Dowd is encouraging all Catholics to still celebrate Ash Wednesday – the beginning of Lent - in a special way. Parishioners who cannot attend Mass on Ash Wednesday are asked to go to their parishes
(between February 17 and February 28)
to pick up blessed ashes and a prayer service brochure, and pray at home with the members of their household.
The ashes are blessed by a priest at each Catholic parish on Ash Wednesday, and parishioners are encouraged to take home
a small container of the blessed ashes along with a short prayer service to pray together with their family or those in their household.
The short prayer service includes short readings from the Bible, and instructions on how to distribute the ashes. See below for full instructional links from diocese.
***********************
Bishop Dowd gave a special blessings to all of viewers of Catholic News World during the interview. He said:
May God bless you and keep you;
May he make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you; May he share
with you His kindness, show you His peace.
And may Almighty God bless you. In the Name
of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Bishop Dowd gave a special blessings to all of viewers of Catholic News World during the interview. He said:
May God bless you and keep you;
May he make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you; May he share
with you His kindness, show you His peace.
And may Almighty God bless you. In the Name
of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen
(Image Source: Facebook Page of Bishop Thomas Dowd)
VIEW the Diocese Announcement : https://dioceseofsaultstemarie.org/ash2021
Prayers, Readings and Instructions for distribution of ashes at home:
Decree by Bishop Dowd: https://d2y1pz2y630308.cloudfront.net/2688/documents/2021/2/Decree-Decret%20-Ash%20Wednesday-2.pdf
Beautiful Instructional Video by the Diocese:
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