Ash Wednesday Starts Lent 2021 In The Gaithersburg Area

GAITHERSBURG, MD — Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent that's celebrated primarily in the Catholic faith, is on Feb. 17 in 2021. Churches in Gaithersburg have ash services scheduled for the day.

On Ash Wednesday, observers of the day will have ashes applied in the shape of a cross to their foreheads. In many cases, people will wear the crosses throughout the rest of the day to publicly express their faith.

The ashes symbolize penance, mourning, and mortality. Typically, the priest will apply the ashes while saying, "Remember you are dust, and unto dust you shall return."

The ashes are prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year's Palm Sunday celebration, which falls every year on the Sunday before Easter.

The administration of ashes this year will be different due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Vatican has said.

The priest will bless the ashes and sprinkle them with holy water in silence, according to the new guidance on the holiday. He will then address the crowd and reciting once the formula found in the Roman Missal: "Repent, and believe in the Gospel" or "Rememberer that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

The ashes will be sprinkled on each person's head without the priest saying anything, the Vatican's pandemic guidance states.

The pandemic may affect services planned at local churches in other ways, too. Be prepared to wear a face covering and practice social distancing if in-person services are taking place.

Here is a list of some Gaithersburg-area churches offering special services for Ash Wednesday:

St. John Neumann Catholic Parish — 9000 Warfield Rd., Gaithersburg

• Time 1: 6:30 a.m.
• Time 2: 9 a.m. (live-streamed)
• Time 3: 12 p.m.
• Time 4: 5:30 p.m.
• Time 5: 7 p.m. (live-streamed)

St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church — 201 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg

• Time 1: 6:30 a.m.
• Time 2: 9 a.m. (live-streamed)
• Time 3: 12:15 p.m.
• Time 4: 5:30 p.m.

St. Mary's Catholic Church — 520 Veirs Mill Rd., Rockville

• Time 1: 7 a.m.
• Time 2: 12:10 p.m.
• Time 3: 7 p.m.

St. Raphael Catholic Church — 1513 Dunster Rd., Rockville

• Time 1: 6:30 a.m.
• Time 2: 9 a.m.
• Time 3: 4:30 p.m.
• Time 4: 7 p.m.
• Time 5: 8:30 p.m.

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church — 917 Montrose Rd., Rockville

• Time 1: 7 a.m.
• Time 2: 8:30 a.m.
• Time 3: 11:30 a.m.
• Time 4: 6 p.m.
• Time 5: 7:30 p.m.

St. Patrick's Catholic Church — 4101 Norbeck Rd., Rockville

• Time 1: 6:30 a.m.
• Time 2: 9:10 a.m.
• Time 3: 5 p.m.
• Time 4: 7 p.m.

Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church — 9200 Kentsdale Drive, Potomac

• Time 1: 7 a.m.
• Time 2: 8:30 a.m.
• Time 3: 12:30 p.m.
• Time 4: 7:30 p.m.

Potomac Presbyterian Church — 10301 River Rd., Potomac

• Time 1: 7:30 p.m.

Lent is a religious period chiefly observed by Catholics, although many other Christians also observe the 40-day span that serves as a time of reflection and restraint in the build-up to Easter.

Many people take part in fasting and/or giving up certain luxuries or pleasures during the period to commemorate the sacrifices made by Christ.

Lent this year will end on Saturday, April 3.