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Ash Wednesday in the Christmas City

Published February 20. 2024 09:43AM
by Tami Quigley Special to the Bethlehem Press

Christians in Bethlehem linked with Christians worldwide Feb. 14 in marking Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, the six weeks of penitence leading up to the joyous celebration of Easter.

Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church at Rosemont and St. Anne Roman Catholic Church are two of the Bethlehem area parishes that observed Ash Wednesday with services.

Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church at Rosemont – formed by the recent merger of Rosemont and Blessed Trinity Lutheran churches – offered the individual Imposition of Ashes at noon at the site of the former Rosemont Lutheran at 1705 W. Broad St. The church offered a full service with Holy Communion, scripture and music at 7 p.m.

The distribution of ashes was offered at each of the four morning, noon and evening Masses celebrated at St. Anne at 450 E. Washington Ave.

“Lent is a time to reflect on our lives as we take this journey as a new community of faith as we make our Lenten journey,” the Rev. Jack Steltzer, pastor of Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church at Rosemont, said. “May God be with us in our letting go and in our living in hope.”

The noon service included time for people to prayerfully meditate before receiving ashes. Pastor Steltzer said the noon Imposition of Ashes was “offered especially for the convenience of those who work, students and those who aren’t comfortable driving at night.” The faithful were also welcome to come in at any time during the day to receive ashes.

“Today is a very special day for us – a day of preparation,” the Rev. Anthony Mongiello said as celebrant of the 8:45 a.m. Mass. “The season of Lent is a time to prepare ourselves for Easter.”

“Every day is preparation for us to hopefully go to heaven.”

In a homily geared toward the students from St. Anne School who attended the Mass, Mongiello asked students to name some of the ingredients used to make cookies, receiving answers such as flour. He made the point that just as we need ingredients to make cookies, “there are ingredients Jesus gives us for Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving,” Mongiello said, referring to the day’s reading from the Gospel of Matthew.

Press photos by Tami Quigley Imposing ashes on the foreheads of students from St. Anne School during the 8:45 a.m. Mass at St. Anne Roman Catholic Church Ash Wednesday Feb. 14 are, from left, Deacon Steven Gorbos; the Rev. Anthony Mongiello, pastor; and the Rev. Alexander Brown, parochial vicar. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, when Christians receive ashes and are reminded, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Jacqueline Quigley, parish secretary at Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church at Rosemont, receives a cross of ashes from the Rev. Jack Steltzer, during the noon service. Lent is a 40-day period of penitence and fasting culminating with the joyful Resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday.
Father Anthony Mongiello offers the homily during the liturgy, which included the attendance of students from St. Anne School.
Pastor Jack Steltzer marks the forehead of Charlie Kuhns with ashes at Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church at Rosemont.
The faithful approach the altar for the Imposition of Ashes at St. Anne Roman Catholic Church.
Pastor Jack Steltzer blesses the ashes at Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church at Rosemont. The ashes are a mark of our repentance and a reminder of our mortality.
The faithful walk to the altar for the Imposition of Ashes at Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church at Rosemont.
Richard Lindner receives ashes from Pastor Jack Steltzer at Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church at Rosemont.
Imposing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful during Mass at St. Anne Roman Catholic Church are, from left, Deacon Steven Gorbos; Father Anthony Mongiello, pastor; and Father Alexander Brown, parochial vicar.