Students join Holy Name Cathedral's Shrove Tuesday service
Father Andy Matijevic, associate pastor of Holy Name Cathedral, leads a prayer service for the burning of palms on Shrove Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in the cathedral's courtyard with fourth graders from St. Francis Xavier Warde School. Blessed palms from the previous Palm Sunday are burned to create ashes for Ash Wednesday. This rite symbolizes repentance, human mortality and the transition into the Lenten season. The palms are typically burned on Shrove Tuesday and the ashes are blessed and used during Ash Wednesday services. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Andy Matijevic, associate pastor of Holy Name Cathedral, leads a prayer service for the burning of palms on Shrove Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in the cathedral's courtyard with fourth graders from St. Francis Xavier Warde School. Blessed palms from the previous Palm Sunday are burned to create ashes for Ash Wednesday. This rite symbolizes repentance, human mortality and the transition into the Lenten season. The palms are typically burned on Shrove Tuesday and the ashes are blessed and used during Ash Wednesday services. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
(Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
(Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
(Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Following the prayer service, workers add the remaining palms turned in by parishioners to the fire. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Jesse Macias, a member of the cathedral staff, adds last years palms from parishioners to the fire following the service. (Karen Callaway/Chicaago Catholic)
