People have been asking about Ash Wednesday. We do not have a supply of ashes this year as the church suppliers have not had much business since the churches have been closed to congregations for much of last year. Ashes are made by burning the palm from the previous Palm Sunday. We still have that supply of palm as we were closed to congregations last year. Our Paschal Candle from 2020 still has a lot of wax in it when it would normally be burned down by now. Because of Level 5 restrictions we are unable to have people come and queue for blessed ashes.

We went into Lockdown last March during Lent and the churches closed all through the remainder of Lent, into Easter and over Eastertime. We celebrated Holy Week, the Paschal Triduum, lit the Paschal Candle, and celebrated Easter time with empty churches.

A journalist was ringing around different clergy asking about our online ministry and what of the future? I told her our Facebook Mass each day since last March has been very well supported and our Rosary at 8.00 p.m. each night, also on the Priorswood Parish Facebook page is a spectacular success. We are blessed to have upwards of 220 different accounts on with an average of 2 thousand plus views. She asked me about Easter, and I said it may be that we will not have the congregations back unless its safe. As Archbishop Farrell has said, “Everything we do must always be in accord with NPHET guidelines.”

Christmas was difficult for parishes with Covid 19 volunteers, social distancing, and sanitizing before and after Masses. We were constantly on guard in case the guidelines on numbers would be breached. And yet by and large all our Churches were safe places. I hope we never have a Christmas like it again – it was completely stressful.

This year, Lent begins in two days’ time with Ash Wednesday. Wearing ashes traditionally reminds me and others that we are going to do something special for Lent. We will try to be more charitable, or less selfish, or be more moderate and sober, perhaps giving up alcohol or tobacco. Self-denial is a powerful way to get into the spirit of Lent. On Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday we are called to fast and abstain. To fast from food, eating one meal and two collations (small portions of food) and to abstain from meat and alcohol. However, we need to be sensible also too. If one does not have good health, and is on medication, or one is older, there is no obligation to fast.

In a way we have been living a kind of Lent with the pandemic since last March. All of us have struggled with the restrictions or have feared contracting Covid. Too many have been sick, and sadly, many have died. Our medical front line heroes have really suffered. Just look at the huge numbers that have been hospitalised. Businesses and jobs have suffered greatly. We pray for the continued success for the roll out of the vaccines and please God we pray for a safe return to the time when we can meet and hold our loved ones again.

We will bless any ashes you may have during our Mass on Facebook live on the Priorswood Parish page. Taking our lead from St. Mel’s Cathedral Parish, Longford, we invite you to use some cold ash from the fireplace or some soil from the garden which we will bless remotely.