Pasadena Churches Start Lent with Ash Wednesday Observance

Wednesday, Feb. 14, is Ash Wednesday, marking the start of Lent in Pasadena and throughout the Christian world.

For most Christians, Ash Wednesday is a period of introspection and spiritual preparation for Easter. In various churches across the city, including St. Andrew Church, First Baptist Church, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, and St. Elizabeth Church, devout congregants gather to observe this solemn occasion with reverence and reflection.

“Ash Wednesday is one of the most important days in the Christian calendar because it’s the beginning of the holy season of Lent,” said Father Marcos Gonzalez, the pastor of St. Andrew’s Church. For him, the distribution of ashes holds profound symbolism – a symbol of mortality and a reminder that we came from ashes and to ashes we shall return.

At the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Father Michael Ume underscored the spiritual essence of fasting and abstinence during Lent.

“Today we live in a generation of materialism, and materialism sometimes makes us too individualistic,” he said. “Fasting is about not allowing material things to control your life,” he said. “So make sure that what God has given to us, we can use it responsibly.”

On Ash Wednesday, various events at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church include morning prayers via Zoom, school sessions, a Young Adult ministry, and masses with the distribution of ashes at 12 noon and during evening Mass at 6:30 p.m.

Deacon Douglas Cramer of St. Elizabeth Church delineated the multifaceted preparations for Ash Wednesday, which signal toned down the church’s decorations in preparation for Lent, with purple becoming the dominant color.

“Aside from the space, we then prepare simply by extending invitations to all we know to come to the services we create for a weekday,” Deacon Cramer said. “We create extra services for people and make sure that everybody is welcome to come to us on Ash Wednesday to receive their actions if they wish.”

At First Baptist Church, Ash Wednesday service is at  p.m. The service will include the imposition of ashes as well as intercessory prayer, singing, and confession.

Pastor John Jay Alvaro said Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day falling on the same day is uncommon, but there won’t be any special change in their schedule.

“We’re going to hold our practices the way we always do, which is we will prepare ashes from last year’s palm leaves that we used for Palm Sunday,” Alvaro said. “Our Ash Wednesday services are an opportunity to meditate on mortality, on the fragility of life, on the fact that everything passes away.”

At All Saints Church, worshippers are advised to bring offerings for the creation of ashes on Shrove Tuesday, Feb. 13, from 4 to 6 p.m. Burning these offerings in a communal fire symbolizes the release or transformation of personal burdens, including palm branches from past Palm Sunday services. The ashes also represent intentions for personal growth and renewal.

Ash Wednesday services the next day will be held at 7 a.m. in the Chapel, 12:10 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the Church with a bilingual Spanish/English service. Ashes-to-go will be offered within the community.

Despite differing theological nuances, each church in Pasadena echoes a common refrain of repentance, reflection, and renewal during the Lenten season. From the solemn imposition of ashes to the meditative sermons, church members embark on a spiritual odyssey to seek solace and spiritual growth amidst the rigors of contemporary life.