Pope Francis ushers in Lent at Ash Wednesday service

Ash Wednesday kicks off Lent

HILLCREST, NY (WIVT/WBGH) - Christians around the world celebrate the start of Lent today by observing Ash Wednesday. Saint Francis of Assisi Parish on Chenango Street in Hillcrest has three services today. Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation, but it is an obligatory day of fasting and abstinence, where you can only eat one full meal, and no meat. The ashes that are marked on the heads of Christian parishioners come from the burning of…

VIDEO: Ash Wednesday ushers in Lent

Parishioners and school children celebrated Ash Wednesday during mass at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Bowling Green.

Pope Francis ushers in Lent at Ash Wednesday service

Pope Francis led Roman Catholics into the season of Lent at a traditional Ash Wednesday Mass, urging the faithful to use the time to put aside materialism and self-centeredness and help others.

Pope Francis ushers in Lent at Ash Wednesday service

Pope Francis led Roman Catholics into the season of Lent at a traditional Ash Wednesday Mass, urging the faithful to use the time to put aside materialism and self-centeredness and help others.

Ash Wednesday marks start of Lent

As the ashes are applied to a worshipper's forehead the priest speaks the words: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

Pope Francis ushers in Lent at Ash Wednesday service

ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis led Roman Catholics into the season of Lent at a traditional Ash Wednesday Mass, urging the faithful use the time to put aside materialism and self-centeredness and help others. Participants, including the pope, had ashes sprinkled on their heads in the customary reminder of mortality during the service in the Basilica of Santa Sabina on Rome's Aventine Hill. The ashes we receive this evening tell us that every pres…