Allentown Bishop Alfred A. Schlert places ashes on the foreheads of students during Ash Wednesday Mass at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena in Allentown.

Sydney Derrick, 8, a student at St. John Vianney Regional School, shows off her ashes during Ash Wednesday Mass on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena in Allentown. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

CHRIS SHIPLEY / SPECIAL TO THE MORNING CALL

Sydney Derrick, 8, a student at St. John Vianney Regional School, shows off her ashes during Ash Wednesday Mass on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena in Allentown. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)Allentown Bishop Alfred A. Schlert places ashes on the forehead of a student from St. John Vianney Regional School during Ash Wednesday Mass on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena in Allentown. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

MICHAEL KUBEL / THE MORNING CALL

Allentown Bishop Alfred A. Schlert places ashes on the forehead of a student from St. John Vianney Regional School during Ash Wednesday Mass on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena in Allentown. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)