The Catholic Diocese of Greensburg has announced changes in the method of blessings to be offered this month at churches throughout the region, including in Indiana County. Due to the pandemic, the procedures for St. Blaise Day tomorrow and for Ash Wednesday on February 17th will be altered.
For St. Blaise Day, which honors the patron saint of throat disease, the celebrant will say a blessing over the entire church with crossed candles. The traditional blessing is done by crossing candles over each parishioner’s throat.
For Ash Wednesday, the celebrants will sprinkle ashes on the heads of parishioners, rather than making the sign of the cross with ashes on the forehead.
Bishop-elect Larry Kulick, whose ordination ceremony will be on February 11th, says “the extenuating circumstances of our times” brought about the changes.
Worshipers may check the websites of their respective parishes for Mass times.
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