[ad_1]
This week, Christians around the world will observe Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of the 40-day period of repentance known as Lent. The solemn season ends with Holy Week, which this year falls on March 31.
Ash Wednesday is celebrated with a mass during which a priest places ashes in the shape of a cross on the foreheads of the faithful while reciting the words “Dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” The ashes, typically made from burned palms, symbolize penitence and mortality.
For the past decade, a growing number of priests in North Jersey, recognizing that busy commuters don’t always have time to stop by church on weekdays, have been bringing ashes to masses at bus stops, train and intersections.
The idea is to meet people where they are, said the Rev. Emily Mellott, pastor of Trinity Episcopal Church in Moorestown, who helped popularize the phenomenon with a website. ashestogo.org.
“Many of us need those reminders more when we are in the midst of our daily tasks of life than when we have made time and preparation to come to a church building, which is why we carry ashes and prayer. outside church.”
The Rev. Andrew Wright of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark added that although the act of receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday is a Christian practice, “it is available to anyone (of any denomination) who wishes to participate.”
Ashes to go in North Jersey
Here is a partial list of locations in the region that offer takeaway ashes. The Episcopal Diocese of Newark maintains a map with the most up-to-date information at “Ashes to go in northern New Jersey” Web page.
Bergen County
- Allendale Train Station, Main Street and East Street, 6 to 8:30 a.m.
- Glen Rock, Borough Hall train station, 6 to 8 a.m.
- Hillsdale, from 6:30 to 8 a.m. at the district train station and from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Holy Trinity Church, 326 Hillsdale Ave.
- Ridgewood, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Christ Church, 105 Cottage Place; drive-thru ashes from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
- Tenafly, from 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. at the town’s bus stop.
Essex County
- Bloomfield/Glen Ridge, 7 to 8:30 a.m. at Glen Ridge Train Station
- Millburn, 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the train station
- Newark, Trinity and St. Philip’s Cathedral, 7:30 a.m. at 688 Broad St.
- Orange, 8 a.m. to noon at Epiphany & Christ Church, 105 Main St.
- Short Hills, 6 to 8 a.m. at the Short Hills Train Station and 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Christ Church, 66 Highland Ave.
- Verona, 7:30 to 9 a.m. and 2 to 2:30 p.m. at Church of the Holy Spirit, 36 Gould St.
Hudson County
- Bayonne, Trinity Parish in Bergen Point, 7 to 8:30 a.m. at Eighth Street Light Rail Station
- Hoboken, 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the PATH station
Morris County
- Denville, 5 to 6 pm at Church of the Savior, 155 Morris Ave.
- Lincoln Park, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 221 Main St.
- Madison, 6 to 8 a.m. at Madison and Convent Station train stations
- Morris Plains, 6 to 7:30 a.m. at the train station; Ashes from noon to 12:45 pm at St. Paul’s Church, 29 Hillview Ave.
Sussex County
- Wantage, from 9:30 to 11:30 am and from 7 to 8 pm at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 200 Route 23
Deena Yellin covers religion for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to her work covering how the spiritual intersects with our daily lives, subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: yellin@northjersey.com
[ad_2]
Source link