Northern Ireland

Churchgoers across country attend mass, receive ashes, to mark the start of Lent, on Valentine’s Day

Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh Michael Router combines Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day, helps launch new marriage preparation course

Bishop Donal McKeown during a Mass on Ash Wednesday at St Mary’s Church in Belfast. PIC COLM LENAGHAN
Bishop Donal McKeown receives his Ashes from Fr Tim Bartlett during a Mass on Ash Wednesday at St Mary’s Church in Belfast. PIC COLM LENAGHAN
By John Breslin

Ash Wednesday married with Valentine’s Day on Wednesday, a combination embraced by the Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh Michael Router at a service in St Mary’s Church, one of the oldest in Belfast.

Parishioners young and old receive their ashes from Fr Tony and Fr Eugene at St Patricks Church in Donegall Street, Belfast marking the beginning of Lent
Parishioners receive their ashes at St Patricks Church in Donegall Street marking the beginning of Lent. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN (Mal McCann)

As thousands received the ashes at services across the north, Bishop Router linked the crossing of the first day of Lent with St Valentine and the launch of a new marriage preparation course, Marriage is a Journey, not a destination.

Parishioners young and old receive their ashes from Fr Tony and Fr Eugene at St Patricks Church in Donegall Street, Belfast marking the beginning of Lent
Parishioners receive their ashes at St Patricks Church in Donegall Street marking the beginning of Lent. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN (Mal McCann)

February 14 “is normally associated with St. Valentine but this year as you know it coincides with Ash Wednesday in the Church’s calendar, a day of fast and abstinence to begin the season of Lent,” Bishop Router said.

Bishop Donal McKeown during a Mass on Ash Wednesday at St Mary’s Church in Belfast. PIC COLM LENAGHAN
Bishop Donal McKeown speaks to parishioners during a Mass on Ash Wednesday at St Mary’s Church in Belfast. PIC COLM LENAGHAN
Parishioners young and old receive their ashes from Fr Tony and Fr Eugene at St Patricks Church in Donegall Street, Belfast marking the beginning of Lent
Parishioners receive their ashes at St Patricks Church in Donegall Street marking the beginning of Lent. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN (Mal McCann)

“Some.... with a more cynical viewpoint, might think it is very appropriate to dwell on marriage along with sack cloth and ashes on the same day, but we won’t go into that,” said Bishop Router.

Parishioners young and old receive their ashes from Fr Tony and Fr Eugene at St Patricks Church in Donegall Street, Belfast marking the beginning of Lent
Parishioners receive their ashes at St Patricks Church in Donegall Street marking the beginning of Lent. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN (Mal McCann)

Bishop Router added of the new course: “It incorporates the most up-to-date psychological understanding of what makes relationships happy and fulfilling.”