Ash Wednesday is a holy day of prayer, fasting and almsgiving that marks the start of the six weeks of penitence before Easter, known as Lent.
For many Christians, its start is noted by receiving cross-shaped ashes on their forehead.
That was the case Wednesday at Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Natrona Heights, Harrison. St. Joseph High School, which is physically connected to the church, had its student take part in distributing ashes during the service.
It was led by the Rev. Andrew Fischer, senior parochial vicar at the Harrison-based Guardian Angels Parish.