Dozens of people took time from the hustle and bustle of their morning commute today at the Frank R. Lautenberg train station in Secaucus to receive blessed ashes, marking the start of the Christian holy season of Lent.
Joe Cirone, a Somerset County resident who passes through Secaucus on his way to work in New York, stopped to receive the ashes, even though he said he plans to attend a church service later in the day.
Cirone was one of about 50 people who participated Ash Wednesday "Ashes to Go" program, started by an Episcopalian church pastor in St. Louis, Mo., in 2007.
"Ash Wednesday is one of the most important holy days on the (Christian) calendar," said the Rev. Barbara Lewis, pastor at Church of Our Savior, on Flanagan Way in Secaucus. "Today marks the beginning of Lent, where we engage in penance and fasting, and that's a big part of our religion."
