ITEM PHOTO BY THOR JOURGENSEN
The Rev. Brian Flynn applies ashes on the Central Square commuter rail.
By THOR JOURGENSEN
Robert Rao was happy to receive ashes on the Central Square elevated commuter rail platform on Wednesday — after all, it was the occasion, not the location, that mattered to the West Lynn resident.
Rao, who worships mostly at Sacred Heart Church, joined the Rev. Brian Flynn, Lynn Catholic Collaborative pastor, and St. Mary’s Church parishioner Drew Russo in marking the start of Lent.
Ash Wednesday opens Lent, a season of fasting and prayer, that takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday. As the priest applies ashes to a person’s forehead, he says, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” or “repent and believe in the Gospel.”
Arriving on the platform at 6:30 a.m., Father Flynn made the sign of the cross on the foreheads of 25 commuters who took ashes. He accepted polite “no thank you’s” from other surprised rail riders.
A conversation with Russo prompted Father Flynn to bring Ash Wednesday out of the church.
“We thought about places to make public awareness that we are entering Lent and leading up to that one amazing night — the Easter vigil (Saturday, April 15),” Father Flynn said.
Father Flynn returns to the commuter platform next Wednesday from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. to hear confessions.
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Thor Jourgensen is the Item News Editor and can be reached at [email protected].