Archbishop Wilton Gregory celebrated his first Ash Wednesday Mass as archbishop of Washington on Feb. 26, saying that the ashes that Catholics receive on their foreheads that day serve as a sign of their faith, which they are called to reflect throughout the season of Lent.

In his homily, Archbishop Gregory said that after ashes are no longer visible on Catholics' foreheads, they should continue to offer signs of their faith by living lives of prayer and through their acts of charity toward others. (CS photos/Andrew Biraj)