Ashes to go: Faithful avail of drive-up Ash Wednesday distribution in Elk Grove Village

For the fourth year, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Elk Grove Village distributed ashes at a community drive-up event Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season, a solemn 40-day period devoted to reflection, prayer, spiritual preparation and fasting before Easter.

On Ash Wednesday, as an outward expression of their faith, observant Catholics have ashes applied to their foreheads in the shape of a cross.

“We really, truly feel that the industrial park is part of our parish,” said Eucharistic Minister Kathy Casterton as she distributed ashes to commuters in the Elk Grove Village Industrial Park off Touhy Avenue.

Commuters, traveling by subway, train or air, also had options for ashes to go at Union Station and O'Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport.

“These are our parishioners here,” Casterton said. “We want to be available to serve them, we want to be able to reach out and hopefully give you a warm thought, a smile and a prayer.”