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Suburban Christians line up for ashes to start Lent

Christians across the suburbs opened the 40-day Lenten period of reflection and penance by marking Ash Wednesday.

For many people, Ash Wednesday is commemorated by being marked on the forehead with a cross of ashes.

What used to be obtainable only in a church, receiving a cross has gotten more convenient in recent years, as priests, pastors and ministers travel to commuter stations, schools, nursing homes, county jails and more places, to dispense the ashes.

While Catholics and Episcopalians are particularly known for getting crosses, Lutherans, some Methodists and other liturgical Protestants also partake in the tradition.

The Christian period of Lent leads up to Holy Week and finally Easter Sunday, this year on March 27.

Images: Ash Wednesday in the suburbs of Chicago

  Inside the Lake County jail on Wednesday, Harold Fabre receives ashes from Chaplain Gary Kupsak, of St. Mary of the Annunciation in Waukegan. Inmates receive ashes annually on Ash Wednesday. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com
  Father Don Kocher distributes ashes at an Ash Wednesday service at St. Patrick's Residence Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Naperville. Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
  Eucharist minister Jim Walkowiak from St. Raymond Catholic Church in Mount Prospect stops in the hallway of Northwest Community Hospital to place ashes on the forehead of nurse Mary Justo, of Hoffman Estates. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.comPastor David Russell of Little Home Church by the Wayside administers drive-by imposition of ashes for Ash Wednesday in Wayne. It was the first time the church had tried this. "The church needs to reach out to people and not only expect people to come to church," Russell said. "Anyone who wishes to begin Lent with this traditional and symbolic blessing is welcome to 'drive by'."
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