February 10, 2021 Re: Update on COVID-19 Impact on Planning for Lent and Holy Week ______
To: All Clergy From: Office of Worship, Very Reverend Matthew J. Kujawinski, VF Date: February 10, 2021 Re: Update on COVID-19 impact on planning for Lent and Holy Week ______________________________________________________________________ As a follow up to the last update dated January 11, 2021, please find the most recent COVID-related liturgical directives from Bishop Persico, including those for Holy Week. We continue to monitor the situation, so if any modifications need to be made to these directives, we will let you know as soon as possible. Distribution of Ashes on Ash Wednesday: Shortly after we issued our last update, the Holy See promulgated directives for Ash Wednesday which are consistent with but more detailed than those indicated earlier by Bishop Persico. Please follow the directives from the Holy See, which are as follows: Prot. N. 17/21 NOTE ON ASH WEDNESDAY Distribution of Ashes in Time of Pandemic The Priest says the prayer for blessing the ashes. He sprinkles the ashes with holy water, without saying anything. Then he addresses all those present and only once says the formula as it appears in the Roman Missal, applying it to all in general: “Repent, and believe in the Gospel”, or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return”. The Priest then cleanses his hands, puts on a face mask and distributes the ashes to those who come to him or, if appropriate, he goes to those who are standing in their places. The Priest takes the ashes and sprinkles them on the head of each one without saying anything.
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