The clergy of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in New Canaan, CT will be on hand from 7-8AM at the New Canaan Train Station on Ash Wednesday (March 1) to provide the annual “Ashes To Go” for commuters before they board their morning trains.

Each year, St. Mark’s brings ashes to busy New Canaan commuters if they cannot attend a traditional Ash Wednesday service. “Ashes To Go” represents meeting the people of the community where they are in their busy lives. Choosing the train station allows commuters to be able to stop, even just for a moment, to remember the importance of this day as we enter Lent. This may be the only time in an individual’s busy schedule to receive ashes.

The Reverend Peter F. Walsh, Rector of St. Mark’s, said, “It is incredibly enlivening to be on the platform and to see people bend with their briefcase to receive ashes, and then to go with a smile that comes with the contentment of having their day begin with the mark of Christ. No matter what happens today for them, I know they all feel at least one thing is right.”

Every year the clergy is met with a very positive response from commuters of all denominations. Last year, a commuter wrote, “Just wanted to send St. Mark’s a thank you for providing ashes at the New Canaan train station on Ash Wednesday. It was a welcomed surprise as I boarded my morning train to be able to receive ashes. It’s these types of everyday acts that make people’s lives easier and gives them the ability to conveniently honor their religious beliefs during crazy work weeks. I am not a parishioner of St. Marks as I am Catholic, but I wanted to thank you for the kind and thoughtful gesture.”

“Ashes To Go” is an annual event offered by St. Mark’s. For more information, please visit the St. Mark’s website at www.stmarksnewcanaan.org.