The Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey takes to the streets to apply ashes as part of their "Ashes to Go" program.
Catholic priests and Christian ministers marked the sign of the cross in ash on foreheads in numerous locales Wednesday: churches, sidewalks, and even train platforms.
The ashes, which begin the Lenten season of penance and fast, are applied in Catholic churches.
The Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, though, takes to the streets to apply ashes as part of their "Ashes to Go" program, which has been an annual, public offering for several years now.
The Episcopal diocese was at the Hamilton train station, and Palmer Square in Princeton.
In a message to the Catholic Diocese of Trenton, David M. O'Connell urged Catholics to not take Lent for granted since it's an annual observation, and to embrace it as a time of prayer
"I invite all Catholics to think about that as Lent begins and ask yourselves, 'Forty days from now, where do I want to be? Closer or drifting away? When I stand before the Lord, where do I want to be?' "
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.