Feb. 18--Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich on Ash Wednesday extended an invitation to people across the city to participate in the Festival of Forgiveness during the second weekend of Lent.
Two dozen Roman Catholic parishes, shrines and campus ministry sites in Cook and Lake counties will stay open for 24 hours -- noon to noon -- Feb. 27 and 28 to offer opportunities for confession, Eucharistic adoration and prayers of healing. Cupich said the festival is open to not only Catholics, but to all people who are in need of healing and forgiveness.
The festival answers a call from Pope Francis, who has described the church as a "field hospital in the middle of a terribly wounded world."
Cupich celebrated Mass and distributed ashes to dozens of faithful at St. Peter's in the Loop parish during the morning rush hour Wednesday. Parish leaders predicted more than a million visitors would pass through the parish Wednesday for the ritual that starts the 40-day Lenten season.
Cupich will say Mass with students from Calvert House, the Catholic Center at the University of Chicago at 6 p.m. in Rockefeller Memorial Chapel.
During his homily Wednesday morning, Cupich said the ashes of palm fronds burned the day before are meant to remind the faithful that "Lent is a time for us to be detached so we remember those deeper bonds that hold us together ... how the Lord holds our lives together."
Meanwhile, Protestant churches will distribute ashes at unconventional locations throughout the day. Pastors from Urban Village offered ashes to commuters at elevated train stations, Metra platforms and street corners. At lunchtime, they will be at Shake Shack at 66 E. Ohio St. Later they will distribute ashes at Chicago Theatre for fans of John Mellencamp, who is performing there Wednesday night.
mbrachear@tribpub.com
