Photos: Ash Wednesday at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church

Photos from the morning Ash Wednesday service at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

Savannah Blake

Feb. 18, 2026 9:12 am

The sun illuminates the ashes on Jane Constant’s forehead after an Ash Wednesday service at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which is a 40 day period of prayer, fasting and repentance that leads up to Easter Sunday. The ashes are a symbol of repentance. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Deacon Joshua Krischel speaks to his parish members during an Ash Wednesday service at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which is a 40 day period of prayer, fasting and repentance that leads up to Easter Sunday. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Ali Al-Wasiri, 10, of Cedar Rapids receives his ashes from Deacon Joshua Krischel during an Ash Wednesday service at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which is a 40 day period of prayer, fasting and repentance that leads up to Easter Sunday. The ashes are a symbol of repentance. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Deacon Joshua Krischel reads a passage from the Bible during an Ash Wednesday service at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which is a 40 day period of prayer, fasting and repentance that leads up to Easter Sunday. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Parish members wait in line to receive their ashes during an Ash Wednesday service at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which is a 40 day period of prayer, fasting and repentance that leads up to Easter Sunday. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Parish coordinator Patti Jansa receives her ashes from Deacon Joshua Krischel during an Ash Wednesday service at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which is a 40 day period of prayer, fasting and repentance that leads up to Easter Sunday. The ashes are a symbol of repentance. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Deacon Joshua Krischel marks the sign of the cross with ashes on a parish members forehead during an Ash Wednesday service at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which is a 40 day period of prayer, fasting and repentance that leads up to Easter Sunday. The ashes are a symbol of repentance. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

A parish member says a prayer after receiving his ashes during an Ash Wednesday service at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which is a 40 day period of prayer, fasting and repentance that leads up to Easter Sunday. The ashes are a symbol of repentance. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Jane Constant of Cedar Rapids prays after receiving her ashes during an Ash Wednesday service at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which is a 40 day period of prayer, fasting and repentance that leads up to Easter Sunday. The ashes are a symbol of repentance. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

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