Weather dampens Ash Wednesday participation

Blizzard conditions, snow and deteriorating road conditions cancel Ash Wednesday Masses in multiple diocesan locations. Although As Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation, many Catholics are drawn to start the penitential season of Lent by attending Ash Wednesday and receiving the sign of ashes upon their foreheads.

Several parishes have a weather policy that Masses are canceled when their public and Catholic schools are delayed or closed due to weather.

According to the parish social media accounts, Divine Mercy Parish of Kossuth County and Storm Lake St. Mary both had to cancel all Ash Wednesday Masses. Denison St. Rose of Lima and Ascension Parish based in Boone only offered evening Masses. Our Lady of the Plains was only able to offer an evening Mass in Lake City. Good Shepherd of Breda cancelled all Masses.

Many other parishes had modified schedules or cancelled Masses altogether.

(Photo courtesy of St. Mary Church, Alton, St. Donatus Catholic Parish.)