Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting, prayer and reflection in preparation of Easter.

March 4 meant an annual milestone for thousands of local residents, possibly including participation in an Ash Wednesday church gathering. Students from Mead Hall and St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School were among participants in Aiken gatherings to mark the start of Lent,

Pews were packed at an Ash Wednesday mass led by Miami’s Archbishop Thomas Wenski at Broward’s oldest Catholic Church earlier this afternoon.