For the sixth year in a row, Episcopal congregations in towns across northern New Jersey will take to the streets on Ash Wednesday, March 1, marking the beginning of the Christian holy season of Lent by giving “Ashes to Go.”
Ash Wednesday initiates the Lenten season of reflection and penitence which precedes Easter. In the Episcopal tradition, ashes are used to mark the foreheads of the faithful with the sign of the cross, with the words “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Numerous priests, deacons and lay people will visit train stations, bus stops, coffee shops, shopping centers and street corners to offer ashes and a brief prayer to commuters and pedestrians who wish to participate.
During morning rush hour, commuters can receive Ashes to Go from The Rt. Rev. Mark M. Beckwith, Bishop of Newark at Newark Penn Station.
The Rev. Canon Gregory Jacobs, diocesan Canon to the Ordinary, will offer Ashes to Go 7:30 - 9 AM at the indoor entrance to the Gateway Building on the second floor of Newark Penn Station.
Churches in the Diocese of Newark that plan to offer Ashes to Go at public locations in their communities are listed below, by town.
The Ashes to Go initiative was started by the Rev. Teresa K. M. Danieley of St. John’s Episcopal Church, St. Louis, MO, who began conducting a street corner service with the distribution of ashes in 2007.
For more about the Ashes to Go program, visit ashestogo.org.
In case of inclement weather, please confirm directly with the individual church (church office numbers are listed below). To confirm with Bishop Beckwith or Canon Jacobs, please contact Nina Nicholson, Director of Communications, at 973-430-9907 or nnicholson@dioceseofnewark.org.
The Episcopal Diocese of Newark comprises the northern third of New Jersey with 99 congregations in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Warren, and Union counties.
Churches offering Ashes to Go
Allendale – Trinity Episcopal Church (201-327-3012)
5:30 - 8:30 AM at the Allendale Train Station
Belvidere – Church of St. Luke and St. Mary (908-459-4340)
7:45 - 8:15 AM at the Warren County Courthouse steps on the Belvidere Green
8:30 - 9:30 AM and 3 - 5 PM at the Quick Check on Route 46 and County Road 519
Bloomfield & Glen Ridge – Christ Church (973-743-5911)
6:30 - 8:30 AM and 6 - 7 PM at the Glen Ridge and Bloomfield Train Stations and the bus station in front of the church
Please check http://christchurchepiscopal.org for any last minute updates
Boonton – St. John's Church (973-334-3655)
During morning rush hour at the Boonton Train Station and the Lakeland Bus enclosure at Town Hall;
followed by the Boonton High School Drop Off area
Chester – Church of the Messiah (908-879-7208)
6 - 6:45 AM outside Dunkin Donuts on Rt. 206
8 - 9:30 AM outside Starbucks on Rt. 206
Cliffside Park – Trinity Church (201-943-1034)
6:30-8:30 AM at the NJ Transit stop near Memorial Park
Clifton – St. Peter's Church (973-546-5020)
7 - 9 AM at the Allwood Road Park & Ride
Franklin Lakes – St. Alban's Church (201-337-4909)
6:30 - 8:15 AM at the VFW commuter lot and middle school drop off, on the corner of Pulis & Franklin Avenues
Glen Rock – All Saints' Church (201-444-6874)
6:30 - 8 AM at Boro Hall Station
Harrison – Christ Church (973-483-1260)
7:15 AM at the Harrison PATH Station
Hillsdale – Holy Trinity Church (201-664-2428)
6:30 - 7:30 AM at the Hillsdale Train Station
Jersey City – St. Paul's Church and Church of the Incarnation (201-433-4922, 201-434-4810)
8 - 9 AM and 5 - 6 PM at McGinley Square
Ledgewood – St. Dunstan's Church in Succasunna (973-927-1485)
7:45 - 8:45 AM at the Dunkin' Donuts on Route 10
Lincoln Park – Good Shepherd Church (973-694-5915)
6 - 8 AM at the Lincoln Park Train Station
Little Falls – St. Agnes' Church (973-256-5020)
7 - 8 AM at the Little Falls Train Station
Livingston – St. Peter's Church (973-992-1932)
6:30 - 8:30 Am at the Livingston Mall Walnut Street bus stop
Madison – Grace Church (973-377-0106)
6:30-7:30 AM at the Madison Train Station
Maplewood – St. George’s Church (973-762-1319)
5:45 - 8:15 AM at the Maplewood Train Station
Millburn – St. Stephen's (973-376-0688)
6:30-7:30 AM at the Millburn Train Station
Montvale – St. Paul's Church (201-391-3181)
6:30 - 7:15 AM at the Montvale Train Station
Mountain Lakes – St. Peter's Church (973-334-4429)
6 - 7:45 AM at the Waterview Bus Stop on Hwy. 46E in Parisippany
Newark – House of Prayer (201-784-0113)
joined by St. Paul's, Chatham and Christ Church, Short Hills
8:30 - 10 AM at Broad Street Station in Newark
Newark – Trinity & St. Philip's Cathedral (973-622-3505)
7 AM on the sidewalk in front of the Cathedral at 608 Broad Street
Nutley – Grace Church (973-235-1177)
11 - 11:45 AM in front of Shop Rite
Ridgewood – Christ Church (201-652-2350)
7:30 AM until 6:30 PM at the Cottage Street portico entrance
Rutherford – Grace Church in Rutherford (201-438-8623) and St. John's Church in Passaic (973-779-0966)
Morning rush hour at the Rutherford Train Station
Sparta – St. Mary's Church (973-729-3136)
6 - 8 AM outside Panera Bread, 25 Center Street (Theater Center)
Summit – Calvary Church (908-277-1814)
6 - 8:30 AM at the Summit Train Station
Teaneck – Christ Church (201-833-4502)
6:30 - 7:30 AM at the Hackensack bus depot
Tenafly – Church of the Atonement (201-568-1763)
7 - 8 AM at the Tenafly Bus Stop
Towaco – Good Shepherd Church (973-334-2882)
6 - 8 AM at the Towaco Train Station
Verona – Church of the Holy Spirit (973-239-2850)
8 - 9:30 AM and 2 - 3:30 PM in front of the Church parking lot at 36 Gould Street