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Students in Prospect Heights prepare for Ash Wednesday

Students at Saint Alphonsus Liguori School in Prospect Heights took a break from classes Tuesday morning for the ceremonial burning of palm fronds to provide the ashes for Ash Wednesday services at the Catholic church.

The fronds are donated by parishioners from the previous year's Palm Sunday services that commemorate Jesus entering the city of Jerusalem during the week of his arrest, trial and crucifixion.

On Ash Wednesday, Christians have their foreheads anointed with the ashes to mark the start of the six-week season of Lent that precedes Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

  Pastor Joseph Le of Saint Alphonsus Liguori Parish in Prospect Heights burns last year's palm fronds to make ashes for Ash Wednesday, with the help of facility manager Rich Miceli on Tuesday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Pastor Joseph Le of Saint Alphonsus Liguori Parish in Prospect Heights says a prayer Tuesday before setting fire to last year's palm fronds to make ashes for Ash Wednesday. Students from the parish school took part in Tuesday's ceremonies. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
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