Churches ask community to handover palms for Ash Wednesday service

Neighbourhood churches are asking church goers to hand over blessed palms that they may have kept on their altar at home to be used for Ash Wednesday service that falls on Feb.26 this year.

Priests at the San Thome Cathedral announced this at all the Masses last Sunday here.

Ash Wednesday marks the first day in the church calendar of the 40 days of Lent leading to Good Friday and Easter Sunday. A season of repentance, reflection and prayer.

The palms are symbolically used in a procession that takes place on Palm Sunday that falls in the Lenten season. These are taken home by church goers and placed on the altar.

The dry palms are now burnt and the ash is used in another symbolic service held on Ash Wednesday in churches.