This year, instead of people having Blessed Ashes placed on their foreheads by a priest on Ash Wednesday (Feb 17th), the Diocese of Cork and Ross has organised for special envelopes to be printed and distributed to the parishes.
 
Before Ash Wednesday these will have Ashes placed into them (safely) in parishes, and they will be blessed in the churches on the morning of Ash Wednesday by the priests at Mass – behind closed doors.
 
They will then be available in the churches during the day so that people who can stop by for a prayer can also take one of the envelopes of Ashes and take them home to their own household, and to another house where they may be part of a care bubble.  These blessed ashes will be available, together with a prayer sheet, on Ash Wednesday morning from 11pam to 6pm on tables in front of the shrines in our parish church.
 
Despite the restrictions banning public Masses the parish still has overheads, electricity and heating bills for the church and the parish office, insurance and other expenses. With this in mind a DONATE box is situated beside the shrines. Please place whatever you can afford into this box; it will be much appreciated.
If you don’t carry cash on you perhaps you would like to donate online at www.frankfieldgrange.ie We do need, and would be very grateful for your ongoing financial support; thank you.
 
Guidance has been given to parishes to ensure compliance with public health and restrictions; please remember to wear face covering when visiting the church.
 
Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, is a day of fast and abstinence. It’s one of two days in the year (Good Friday is the other day) when Catholics are required to fast (restrict to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal ) and abstain from meat, alcohol and luxuries.
(This applies to anyone over 14 and under 60, except those who are elderly or unwell.)