In a culture where people don't have a lot of time to spare, some Catholic churches have evolved so that people can bypass mass and actually get “drive-through” ashes. Imposing ashes on one’s forehead is a sign of penitence that the early Christians adopted from Jewish practice, but within the last few years, it has evolved and some churches are essentially bringing their ashes to the streets.
Though it is a custom for Catholics to sit through mass, in 2010 three Chicago-area churches took ashes to suburban train stations and noticed people were happy to indulge in a moment of grace and receive the ashes before heading to work. In 2012, that initiative, “Ashes to Go,” caught on nationally, and a year later the idea went international, with churches in the United Kingdom, Canada and South Africa also practicing in the easy penitence method.
According to the official website o “Ashes to Go,” the fast version of getting ashes is about “bringing spirit, belief, and belonging out from behind church doors, and into the places where we go every day.” The site adds that though the event is simple, there is a deeper meaning -- where busy people can have a “contemporary moment of grace.”
For those who are interested to find "Ashes to Go" in the New York area, check out the list provided below, courtesy of the official Ashes to Go organization.
Albany, N.Y.
St Andrew’s Episcopal Church
Contact: The Rev. Mary White
Where Ashes to Go will be offered:
7:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. on the Church Steps (10 North Main Ave.)
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Episcopal Community Services
Contact: Juan Carlos Ruiz
Where Ashes to Go will be offered:
26 Federal Plaza
Floral Park, NY
St. Elisabeth’s
Contact: Abby Murphy
Where Ashes to Go will be offered:
Floral Park Train Platform, Inbound Side by the Escalator
Comments:
St. Elisabeth’s Church has been doing “Ashes to Go” since 2010.
Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
Contact: The Rev. Beth O’Callaghan
Where Ashes to Go will be offered:
Long Island Rail Road commuters can receive “Ashes to Go” over the track walkway at the Ronkonkoma Train Station from 6-9 a.m.
Malone, N.Y.
Malone: Centenary United Methodist Church
Contact: Rev. Billy Bond
Where Ashes to Go will be offered:
Ashes to Go will be offered from 8 a.m to noon in front of the church on 345 West Main St.
New Hartford, N.Y.
St. Stephens Episcopal Church
Contact: Joell Szachara
Where Ashes to Go will be offered:
Corner of Oxford Rd. & Genessee St. and the school parking lot
Orchard Park, N.Y.
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
Contact: Sean Leonard
Where Ashes to Go will be offered:
“Ashes to Go” will be done in the church’s parking lot, at 6595 East Quaker St., from 7-8:15 a.m.
Peekskill, NY
St. Peter’s, Peekskill
Contact: Jan Nunley
Where Ashes to Go will be offered:
Commuters can receive “Ashes to GO” at the Peekskill MetroNorth commuter rail station from 6-8 a.m.
Williamsville, N.Y.
St. Paul’s, Clarence, NY
Contact: Vicki Zust
Where Ashes to Go will be offered:
At the church at 4275 Harris Hill Road, 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 5-6:30 p.m.
Comments:
More than 70 people received “Drive through ashes” in this location last year.
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What Is ‘Ashes To Go?’ Where To Get 'ATG' In New York
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