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Busy On Ash Wednesday? 'Ashes To Go' Has You Covered

DETROIT (WWJ) Every year, millions of people miss out on church services for Ash Wednesday due to the demands of work and other responsibilities.

A local church is trying to reach out to the people with the faith, but not the time.

La Iglesia Detroit Hispanic Ministry is offering ashes at various street corners in southwest Detroit Wednesday afternoon and early evening.

Madre Marcia Ledford spoke with WWJ's Ron Dewey and said for those in a rush, it's a celebration on the go.

"People will drive up and we'll have a little chat," Ledford said. "Then we will give the traditional Ash Wednesday cross of ashes on the forehead, and we will say, remember you are dust and to dust you shall return."

The program is in its third year, and Ledford says that it allows the church to go beyond their sanctuary to bring its message to the mission field.

"It's been developing over the last couple of years, as a way to get the church outside of its own walls and to be out in the community," Ledford said.

Ledford also says it's a chance to give people who would usually miss out participating every year the opportunity to be a part of the Christian holiday tradition.

"A lot of people can't make their churches services because of work schedules or picking up children, or whatever is going on. So this is a way for us to help out with that," she said.

Ledford said that they have been getting plenty of positive feedback from the community with the on-the-go church service.

"People seems to be very appreciative and very thankful the have this chance," Ledford said. "Otherwise, they might not make it to church. We hear that a lot."

So if you are out about throughout Southwest Detroit on Tuesday and want to run into the group of priests, Ledford encourages people to stop by, saying they shouldn't be hard to spot.

"You will see a tall cross on a pole," Ledford said. "We will have a sign that says 'Ashes To Go, La Iglesia Detroit Welcomes You.'"

Ledford says they will be easy to spot along various interesections of Vernor Highway and Vernon Street from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and again from 5 to 7 p.m.

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