Bradford Royal Infirmary to host Ash Wednesday 'Ashing' service
Bradford Teaching Hospitals has invited people to mark Ash Wednesday with an 'Ashing' service.
Hospital staff, patients, and visitors are welcome to take part in the service, to be held at Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI).
The service, arranged by the Trust's Spiritual, Pastoral, and Religious Care (SPaRC) team, will take place at 12.15pm today (Wednesday, March 5) in the BRI Chapel, next to the main Duckworth Lane entrance.
This is a traditional service of making the sign of the cross on a person's forehead with 'ashes' as a symbol of repentance and commitment to live a godly life.
Ash Wednesday is the start of the Christian season of Lent; a six-week period when Christians are called to pray, fast, and give to those in need.
Lent ends with the celebration of Easter, this year on Sunday, April 20.
Church of England SPaRC practitioner, Rev Steve Lees, said: "As part of the Trust's Lent and Easter activities we are once again holding an Ashing service to mark Ash Wednesday.
"Many people chose to join in this occasion last year, so we look forward to welcoming colleagues, patients, and visitors again this year."
More information about the Trust's SPaRC team is available at https://www.bradfordhospitals.nhs.uk/sparc/
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