(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) Today is Ash Wednesday, kicking off the Lenten season.
This year, churches are planning to return to a more normal celebration, instead of the previous years, which were changed by COVID-19.
For those concerned about COVID-19, small cloth patches with ash crosses will be made available.
As parishioners receive their ashes, Pope Francis is also asking everyone to fast and pray for peace in Ukraine.