ODESSA, Texas — February 14, 2024, is the start of Ash Wednesday, marking the first day of Lent.
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the 40 days leading up to Easter.
In celebration of Ash Wednesday, Connection Christian Church in Odessa came back with their tradition of "ashes to go."
The church hosted the ashes to go event at Medical Center Hospital so people can get an ash cross on their forehead instantly, instead of sitting through an entire mass.
After people got the ash cross on their forehead, they were on their way.
MCH was busy Wednesday morning and said about 300 people came by.
"I've done this for over eight years now and this is the best turn out we've had in eight years so that is a good thing," MCH Director of Pastoral Service, Doug Herget, said. "This is a time of prayer. A lot of times people will fast certain items like meat or items like sugar, sweets during period of Lent. It's a time of realignment with spiritual beliefs."