Last year we began what we hope will become a tradition here at Holy Trinity: we asked you to contribute your old palms from last Palm Sunday to be burned to create the ashes needed on Ash Wednesday.

We take the palms blessed last year on Palm Sunday, palms that were saved as a remembrance of the Lord’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem, palms that have been in our homes and have witnessed all the moments of our lives.

We place them into the fire where they will vanish into the white-hot flames and then be rendered to ash. With these ashes will we be marked with the sign of the cross, a sign of our willingness to turn away from sin and to be faithful to the Gospel. With them we will begin our Lenten journey once again, a journey that will lead each of us to the renewal of our baptismal call.

Today you will find, at all the entrances of the church, receptacles for the palms. We will collect them from Sunday, February 12 through Saturday, February 25. The palms will be burned in a special ceremony at the end of the 10:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, February 26, the last Sunday before Lent begins.

Thank you again for your help in continuing this meaningful new tradition.  (February 12, 2006)