Photos

Car Masses continue despite cold and snowy weather

When churches reopened for Masses last June, a handful of parishes with access to large parking lots got creative and started holding car Masses for those especially vulnerable to COVID -19. Despite the cold weather and lots of snow this year, those Masses continue to take place, like those at Sts. Joseph and Francis Xavier Parish in Wilmette. Other parishes, like Queen of All Saints Basilica, offer occasional services outdoors. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Over 150 cars are packed in rows for Ash Wednesday Mass in the parking lot of St. Joseph School in Wilmette on Feb. 17. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Wayne Watts celebrates an Ash Wednesday car Mass at Sts. Joseph and Francis Xavier Parish in Wilmette on Feb. 17. The parish has offered car Masses to those vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus since the parish reopened last year. Car Massgoers donated funds to erect an enclosed shed for the altar to protect ministers in the cold weather months. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A woman watches Mass through her car window. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A minister makes the sign of the cross in ashes for a Massgoer. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Ministers distribute ashes using cotton swabs to people in cars. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Children wave out of the sunroof of a car during the Ash Wednesday car Mass at St. Joseph and Francis Xavier Parish. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A Massgoer sanitizes her hands before receiving the Eucharist. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A minister offers the Eucharist to a person in a car. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Simon Braganza, pastor at Queen of All Saints Basilica, gives ashes to an Amazon delivery driver who stopped by the church for a delivery. The parish hosted two drive-thru Ash Wednesday distribution on Feb. 17, 2021. They also provided small packets of blessed ashes “to go” for people to bring to those who did not want to venture out, especially given the large snowfall the Chicago area received just two days earlier. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Paul and Lisa Berghoff, who walked up to the drive-thru ashes distribution, receive ashes from Father Simon Braganza. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A parishioner receives ashes sprinkled on her head on Ash Wednesday. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vatican and the Archdiocese of Chicago instructed priests to sprinkle ashes on top of the head instead of marking a cross on foreheads. They could also distribute ashes using cotton swabs. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A volunteer displays a container holding small packets of blessed ashes “to go” for people to bring to those who did not want to venture out, especially given the large snowfall the Chicago area received just two days earlier. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Simon Braganza, pastor at Queen of All Saints Basilica, sprinkles ashes on a parishioner during a drive-thru Ash Wednesday distribution on Feb. 17. The parish hosted two drive-thru distributions and provided small packets of blessed ashes “to go” for people to bring to those who did not want to venture out, especially given the large snowfall the Chicago area received just two days earlier. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

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