Changes to Ash Wednesday observances seen at area churches due to pandemic

WAUWATOSA, Wis. (CBS 58) – As people around the world observe Ash Wednesday on Wednesday, Feb. 17, many changes are in place due to the pandemic.

At St. Pius X Parish in Wauwatosa, Ash Wednesday was observed in person, but the church also released a mass online for those at home.

“If you’re making your best effort to stay connected, take quiet time in prayer with the Lord and just move on, soon hopefully we’ll be able to come back together,” St. Pius X Parish Fr. Paul Portland said.

For those who came to mass on Wednesday, instead of receiving the ashes, they put them on themselves using a swab. The church is only allowing people to sit in every third pew to help with social distancing.

Fr. Portland encouraged his parishioners to be thankful this Lenten season.

“In the pandemic we tend to think of what we’ve missed, but we have a lot of blessings,” he said. “Thinking of those blessings can help us see where we need to be more thankful to God.”

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee posted a video on Facebook earlier this month explaining more of the changes for Ash Wednesday services.