Bring old ‘palaspas’ for Ash Wednesday, churches urge faithful

MANILA, Philippines — Catholic churches on Sunday called on the faithful to start bringing their old palm fronds (palaspas) from last year’s Palm Sunday celebration in preparation for the observance of Ash Wednesday on Feb. 26.

“In preparation of Ash Wednesday on Feb. 26, we will start accepting old palm fronds,” the Archdiocesan Shrine of Sto. Niño or Tondo Church posted on its Facebook page.

It added that churchgoers may bring their old palm fronds to the parish office.

Old palm fronds are burned to become ash. The blessed ashes are then mixed with a little oil and used to mark the sign of the cross on the foreheads of churchgoers on Ash Wednesday with the reminder that “Thou art dust and unto dust thou shall return” and to “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.”