Claretian priest Father Educ Apungan on February 14, 2021, leads the burning of palm fronds used in last year’s Palm Sunday, which will then be sprinkled on the heads of Catholics this coming Ash Wednesday. Parishes usually burn these palm branches the day before Ash Wednesday, which is called Shrove Tuesday. Under normal circumstances, the ashes used on Ash Wednesday come from burned palm branches that had been used in the previous year’s Palm Sunday. Here are the guidelines from the CBCP: On ashes to be used While a substantial chunk of the CBCP guidelines can be found in the Vatican’s January 12 note on Ash Wednesday, the use of cotton balls and take-home packets have not been specified in this Vatican document.

Only the bishop of a diocese, who is directly accountable only to the Pope, can decide for his territory in line with Vatican pronouncements. It is important to note that the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Liturgy – like the CBCP as a body – can only make recommendations. These guidelines were signed by Baguio Bishop Victor Bendico, chair of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Liturgy, on February 4. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, through its Episcopal Commission on Liturgy, issued guidelines for the observance of Ash Wednesday.

Benevento imposition of ashes