Ash Wednesday Marked by Christians Nationwide as Lent Begins

Observances across the country highlight a period of reflection and renewal leading up to Easter.

Christians across various communities observed Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of spiritual introspection leading up to Easter.
In Orange County, parishioners attended mass at La Purisima Catholic Church, receiving ashes on their foreheads as a reminder of mortality and a call to repentance.
Miami's oldest Catholic Church, Gesù, saw hundreds of Catholics participate in the solemn ritual, with Archbishop Thomas Wenski leading the service.
In Salt Lake City, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church hosted Ash Wednesday Mass, symbolizing the start of Christianity’s holiest season for its parishioners.
The observance of Ash Wednesday serves as a time for believers to reflect on their mortality, repent for sins, and renew their commitment to living a life of faith.