I am really happy even if it's very crowded. In Philippines, churches have in the past two years sprinkled ash in people's hair due to anti-COVID measures. Most COVID-19 restrictions were scrapped this week after a sharp drop in infections and increased vaccinations, allowing churches to pack their pews and physical contact to resume.ĭevotees wearing masks began lining up outside Baclaran Church in Manila before dawn to receive the ash cross on their foreheads - a ritual that signals the beginning of Lent.īelow, Catholic nuns prepare to apply ash on foreheads of the faithful. Meanwhile, believers also flocked to Holy Trinity Church in Kamwokya - in Kampala - to observe the beginning of Lent.Įlsewhere, thousands of Filipinos went to churches to observe Ash Wednesday, with Catholic priests and nuns daubing their foreheads with a cross for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The ash is made from the palms from the previous Palm Sunday and it is a public sign of faith and willingness to live as Christ.Īsh Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period in preparation for the most important Christian festival of the year, Easter. Gerard Kalumba, the parish priest, is pictured below applying ash on the forehead of Christians.

At Christ the King Church in Uganda's capital Kampala, Msgr.

During Lent, faithful immerse themselves in fasting, prayer and reflection.įaithful made their way to places of worship to celebrate Ash Wednesday. Christian devotees around the world are observing Ash Wednesday by attending prayers and receiving the ash cross on their foreheads, which is a ritual that signals the beginning of the 40 days of Lent.

Imposition of ashes priest