By Ana Rodriguez Soto - Florida Catholic newspaper
Archbishop Edward McCarthy High students welcome Archbishop Thomas Wenski to their school.
Ashes await blessing and distribution by Archbishop Thomas Wenski.
Sophomore Chris King, a member of the liturgical choir, plays guitar during the Mass.
Archbishop Edward McCarthy High's students are known as the Mavericks.
Altar server Esther Gregori, a junior, leads the procession into the gym at the start of the Mass.
An Archbishop McCarthy High student proclaims the first reading.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski preaches his homily while holding the box of "life-savers," among them a wad of money.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski preaches his homily while holding the box of "life-savers," including the one that never fails, the cross of Christ.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski blesses the ashes before making the sign of the cross on the foreheads of students and faculty.
Father Brendan Dalton, supervising principal of Archbishop McCarthy High School, places ashes on the forehead of Archbishop Thomas Wenski.
Already marked with the sign of Lenten penance, McCarthy High ninth grader Bridget Lapinskas holds on to the archbishop's crozier.
Archbishop McCarthy High 11th grader Michael Thompson prays during the Mass.
McCarthy High students Eric Gutierrez and Victoria Roque take up the bread and wine during the offertory.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski prays over the gifts of bread and wine at the start of the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski elevates the host during the consecration.
A table in front of the altar reminded students that Lent is about fasting, prayer and almsgiving: Operation Rice Bowl is a reminder to give; the empty bowl behind it is a reminder to fast; and the Bible and rosary are a reminder to pray.
Archbishop McCarthy High student and altar server Esther Gregori, grade 11, prays silently while holding the sacramentary.
Ashes await blessing and distribution by Archbishop Thomas Wenski.
Sophomore Chris King, a member of the liturgical choir, plays guitar during the Mass.
Archbishop Edward McCarthy High's students are known as the Mavericks.
Altar server Esther Gregori, a junior, leads the procession into the gym at the start of the Mass.
An Archbishop McCarthy High student proclaims the first reading.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski preaches his homily while holding the box of "life-savers," among them a wad of money.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski preaches his homily while holding the box of "life-savers," including the one that never fails, the cross of Christ.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski blesses the ashes before making the sign of the cross on the foreheads of students and faculty.
Father Brendan Dalton, supervising principal of Archbishop McCarthy High School, places ashes on the forehead of Archbishop Thomas Wenski.
Already marked with the sign of Lenten penance, McCarthy High ninth grader Bridget Lapinskas holds on to the archbishop's crozier.
Archbishop McCarthy High 11th grader Michael Thompson prays during the Mass.
McCarthy High students Eric Gutierrez and Victoria Roque take up the bread and wine during the offertory.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski prays over the gifts of bread and wine at the start of the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski elevates the host during the consecration.
A table in front of the altar reminded students that Lent is about fasting, prayer and almsgiving: Operation Rice Bowl is a reminder to give; the empty bowl behind it is a reminder to fast; and the Bible and rosary are a reminder to pray.
Archbishop McCarthy High student and altar server Esther Gregori, grade 11, prays silently while holding the sacramentary.
Photography: ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC
SOUTHWEST RANCHES | Archbishop Thomas Wenski began the season of Lent 2016 by celebrating Ash Wednesday Mass at Archbishop Edward McCarthy High School in Southwest Ranches. For his homily, he brought a box of "life-savers" - not the candy, because that's something people give up for Lent, he said, but medicines, money, family (in the form of photographs) and a cross. All the others can fail us, he told the gym full of students, but the cross of Christ will truly save us.
