Q-Tips will play a role in this year's Ash Wednesday which is observed today.

During this last weekend's worship services, Ripon's St. Patrick's Church pastor Father Raju Gudimalla announced that as part of the Covid-19 prevention, Q-Tips will be used to apply the sign of the cross in ashes on the faithful's foreheads instead of the clergy and church volunteers doing it in the traditional way of using their fingers.

Below is the official explanation given by the Stockton Diocese on how the ashes are distributed this year that "might look a bit different.

"You are probably used to receiving the ashes in the shape of a cross on your forehead. The Vatican has put out a note highlighting the method of sprinkling ashes over the crown of the head as a good no-contact way to distribute ashes during this time. Unless you have been to certain monasteries in the US or some other parts of the world, you may not have experienced ashes being distributed in this way, but it is a custom followed in Rome, among other places."

The usual biblical admonition that accompanies the distribution of the ashes remains the same: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return” or “Repent and believe in the Gospel”. Then ashes will be distributed.

When receiving the ashes, either distributed by sprinkling or or the traditional way, the faithful are instructed to bow their head while the minister takes a pinch of ashes and sprinkle it on top of one's head.

Schedule of Distritution of Ashes in Manteca and Ripon churches.

St. Anthony of Padua, Manteca

Ashes will be distributed during the following hours:

* Morning: 9 - 11 .M.

* Afternoon: 4 to 7 p.m.

Instructions for those in attendance will be posted. They will be instructed to enter through one door, follow the social distancing of at least six feet, receive the ashes and then exit the church.

St. Patrick's Church, Ripon

Ashes will be distributed at the Holy Angels Chapel parking lot at * 11 a.m. in English, and 1 p.m. in Spanish.

Additionally, ashes will be distributed at 5-6 p.m. only at the Holy Angels Chapel.

There will be a drive-through distribution of ashes as well at 7 a.m. in the back parking lot of the churh near the soccer field.

The Holy Angels Chapel is located on Carrollton Road north of Highway 120.

Ash Wednesday is a universal day of Fast and Abstinence for Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59; they are also obliged to do the same on Good Friday.

Likewise, all Catholics 14 years of age and older must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays of Lent.