Ashes and a brief blessing are available for all from 12-4pm on Ash Wednesday, February 14th, in the lobby of the A.D. Bruce Religion Center and the main entrance of Student Center South. We mark our foreheads with dust in the shape of the life-giving cross to remember that our earthly death is not the end of our baptismal promise. All are welcome to receive ashes.

On Ash Wednesday we begin our forty-day journey toward Easter. Marking our foreheads with dust, we acknowledge that we die and return to the earth. At the same time, the dust traces the life-giving cross indelibly marked on our foreheads at baptism. While we journey through Lent to return to God, we have already been reconciled to God through Christ. We humbly pray for God to make our hearts clean while we rejoice that “now is the day of salvation.” Returning to our baptismal call, we more intentionally bear the fruits of mercy and justice in the world.