As the one-year-mark of the pandemic approaches, the Rev. John O’Neill of St. James Church in Danielson, said it’s been a hard year for everyone, as the pandemic is even preventing the Christian tradition of Ash Wednesday to continue without changes.
“I tell people to hang in there,” O’Neill said. “This year’s been toughest year we’ve experienced.”
On Feb. 10, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich issued a release detailing the changes that have been made in the diocese regarding Ash Wednesday services. The main change is that, in the interest of minimizing physical contact, ashes, after being blessed, will be sprinkled onto recipients instead of being marked in the shape of a cross on their forehead.