As Christians mark the start of Lent, clergy and lay ministers in the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh will be distributing ashes out in public in communities across multiple counties of southwestern Pennsylvania on Wednesday, February 22. This is the 11th year that the diocese has offered “Ashes to Go” for individuals who cannot, or for some reason prefer not, to attend a traditional Ash Wednesday service in a church.
Bishop Ketlen Solak will lead the practice by distributing ashes in heart of Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood in the morning and in downtown Pittsburgh in the afternoon.
WHAT: Distribution of ashes in public venues and non-traditional settings
WHEN/WHERE: Multiple locations & times (listed chronologically by start time):
- Mt. Lebanon, 7:00-8:00 a.m., “T” station, lower entrance, 600 block Shady Dr. East
- Johnstown, 8:00-10:00 a.m., Central Park, 507 Main St.
- Squirrel Hill, 9:00-11:30 a.m., corner of Forbes & Murray Avenues (note: Bishop will distribute ashes from 10:00-10:45 a.m.)
- Mt. Lebanon, 9:30-10:30 a.m. drive-thru distribution at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1066 Washington Rd. (Mayfair Drive parking lot)
- McCandless, 10:30 a.m., Sunrise of McCandless, 900 Lincoln Club Dr.
- Hastings, Cambria Co., 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Conemaugh Miners Medical Center Chapel, 290 Haida Avenue
- Brackenridge, 12:00-2:00 p.m., front of St. Barnabas Church, 989 Morgan St.
- Homestead, 12:00-12:30 p.m., outside of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 336 East 10th Ave.
- Kittanning, 12:00-2:00 p.m., front of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 112 N. Water Street
- East Liberty/Shadyside, 12:15-1:15 p.m., front steps of Calvary Episcopal Church, 315 Shady Ave.
- Homestead, 12:30-1:30 p.m., 100-200 blk. East Eighth Ave.
- Mt. Lebanon, 1:00-2:00 p.m. drive-thru distribution at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1066 Washington Rd. (Mayfair Drive parking lot)
- Downtown Pittsburgh, 1:00-4:00 p.m., outside Trinity Cathedral, 300 blk. Sixth Ave. (note: Bishop will distribute ashes from 1:00-2:00 p.m.)
- Squirrel Hill, 1:30-3:30 p.m., corner of Forbes & Murray Avenues
- Johnstown, 3:00-5:00 p.m., Central Park, 507 Main St.
- Brackenridge, 4:00-5:00 p.m., front of St. Barnabas Church, 989 Morgan St.
- Mt. Lebanon, 4:30-5:30 p.m., “T” station, lower entrance, 600 blk Shady Dr. East
- East Liberty/Shadyside, 6:00-6:45 p.m., driveway circle on the northwest side of Calvary Episcopal Church, 315 Shady Ave.