Lent’s beginning marked with distribution of ashes
Pastor: Day a reminder of mortality, repentance for when one’s drifted from faith
As Rose Harrison received her ashes at Saint Julie Billiart Catholic Church in Tinley Park Wednesday, she said it marked a time of reflection for her to consider how she would like to be a better person.
“Ash Wednesday is a new beginning, that’s how I view it. It’s a time of reflection,” Harrison said.
At Saint Julie Billiart, which offered ashes all day, parishioners and attendees expressed their hope and renewed focus on faith and bettering themselves as
Lent begins.
The Rev. Tirso Villaverde, pastor of Saint Julie Billiart, said Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which is a period of preparation before Easter. During Lent, Christians aim to “refocus our energy” on God, he said, through fasting, praying and alms giving.
The ashes are a reminder of one’s mortality and repentance for moments where one drifted away from faith or God, Villaverde said.
“It’s a stark reminder to us that we won’t live forever. It’s not supposed to be a doom and gloom type thing, but it’s a reminder of our mortality so that we can trust more in what God gives than anything the world can give,” Villaverde said.
Given the pandemic, Ash Wednesday in 2021 and 2022 looked different from previous years, Villaverde said, with parishioners receiving ashes via cotton swab in 2021 and masked in 2021 and 2022.
While some people still wore masks Wednesday, Villaverde said this year feels most like years before the pandemic.
As people came to church throughout the day, he said he hopes those who haven’t returned to church since the pandemic will consider returning to Mass.
“Hopefully the realization of Lent will encourage those Catholics who haven’t come back to start coming back,” Villaverde said.
Harrison, who lives in Chicago but has been coming to the Tinley Park parish for several years because it offers ashes all day, said when she’s missed receiving Ash Wednesday, like during the pandemic, she’s felt lost because the tradition has been a big part of her life.