Ash Wednesday Starts Lent 2021 In Newport

NEWPORT, RI — Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent that’s celebrated primarily in the Catholic faith, is on Feb. 17 in 2021. Churches in Newport 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.

Dr. James McDonald, the Chief Administration Officer at the Rhode Island Department of Health, told Patch that Rhode Islanders should feel safe attending mass in person as long as they wear a high-quality face mask and follow social distancing requirements.

"If you do want to go to mass, God bless you, go," he said, adding that elderly Rhode Islanders should consider attending services virtually.

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 churches in Newport offering special services for Ash Wednesday.

St. Mary's Church: 12 William St.

• 7:30 a.m.

St. Augustin's Church: 5 Harrison Ave.

• 5 p.m.

The Church of Jesus Savior: 1 Vernon Ave.

• 8 a.m.
• 5 p.m.

Lent is a religious period chiefly observed by Catholics, although many other Christians also observe the 40-day span that serves as 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.