The Archdiocese of Manila clarified that priests in the city may still put ashes on the forehead of devotees despite a Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines recommendation that the clergy tweak the Lenten practice by sprinkling this instead on the faithful鈥檚 head.
In a circular, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said they would leave it to the 鈥渄iscretion of their pastors鈥� if the usual marking of ashes in one鈥檚 forehead would still be observed on Ash Wednesday.
鈥淭he imposition of ashes on the forehead remains an option for our parishes and communities at the discretion of their pastors,鈥� said Pabillo. 鈥擩OVIC YEE