By J. Jala | 08:35 PM February 26, 2020
Sprinkled ash or mark on forehead?
The dioceses of Tagbilaran and Talibon in Bohol kept the old tradition of marking the parishioners’ foreheads with blessed ashes, Ash Wednesday, the first day of the 40-day Lenten season.
Tagbilaran Bishop Abet Uy of the diocese of Tagbilaran put ashes in the foreheads of the parishioners attended the Ash Wednesday mass at the St. Joseph the Cathedral in Tagbilaran City on Wednesday morning.
In Cebu, some churches sprinkled ash on the crown of their faithful instead of marking their foreheads for Ash Wednesday as a precaution against the new coronavirus disease (COVID-2019).
This year Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, falls on February 26.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has issued guidelines amid the threat posed by the COVID-19 including the sprinkling of ashes on the crown of the head on Ash Wednesday.
The CBCP, earlier, advised the faithful to refrain from holding hands while singing the Ama Namin, to simply nod and avoid shaking hands and kissing when exchanging peace, and to receive communion by hand. Water fonts in church entrances will also be kept empty for now.
The parishes around the country are faced with different situations and may observe different precautionary measures.
