The Lenten season is underway.
Ash Wednesday is a holy day of prayer and fasting observed by Western Christian denominations. Churchgoers in the Manhattan area partook in prayer, song and communion before receiving ashes on their foreheads.
Austin English, pastor of Peace Lutheran Church on Kimball Avenue, provided a drive-thru imposition of ashes in the parking lot from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday before the church held a 6:30 p.m. worship service.
During the service, English told his congregation that people too often make their fast about themselves, when they should be focused on those around them.
“Christianity was never meant to be an individual sport, it is a communal function,” he said.
St. Isidore’s Catholic Student Center, located at the corner of Anderson and Denison avenues, held six Ash Wednesday masses between 7 a.m. and 9:09 p.m., while also hosting confessions all day. Father Gale Hammerschmidt encouraged those in attendance — especially those who aren’t Catholics — to visit again at any time.
“Feel free to be here,” he said. “Feel free to come with your friends, feel free to just be here and pray. The church is generally open. You just need some quiet, come. You need a place to study, come. You need some ridiculousness in your life? There’s plenty of that around as well.”
Lent concludes April 2, which leads up to observance of Good Friday on April 3, Holy Saturday on April 4 and Easter Sunday April 5.