Grace Cathedral

The Season of Lent always begins with Ash Wednesday, and at Grace Cathedral, that means the Rite of Palms to Ashes, which starts the preparation of ashes for the Wednesday services. Immediately following the evening Eucharist on Sunday, March 2, cathedral faithful brought their now dried palm branches from the previous year’s Palm Sunday to the cathedral plaza, placed them in a metal cauldron, where Cathedral Principal Verger Michael Hendron set them ablaze.   

Presided over by The Rev. Joe Williams and assisted by Deacon, The Rev. Jac Cherry, the outdoor service at times resembled a Renaissance tableau as the flames reflected in the faces of congregants and clergy. The process continued until only a cauldron of glowing embers remained.

Following a night to cool, the final stage of the preparation began Monday morning as Principal Verger Hendron exchanged his verger’s rod for a mortar & pestle to crush and grind the burned palms into a coarse ash which he then sifted into the fine ash ready to be blessed for the Ash Wednesday services. Two bushels of dried palms yielded one large bowl of ashes, more than sufficient for all to receive the cross of ashes on their forehead as the 40 days of Lent began.

Writer & Photos: Kenn Sparks

Email: Kenn@kennsparks.com