Ash Wednesday: Different look, same message The sprinkling of ashes on individual heads would take place without any words said to each person Trending The Vatican said priests can take special anti-COVID-19 precautions this year when distributing ashes on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, including sprinkling ashes on the top of people's heads rather than using them to make a cross on people's foreheads. Ash Wednesday, as with many other things right now, will have a different look at many Catholic parishes across the United States this year. For starters, Catholic churches that are often standing-room only on this day -- drawing crowds just short of the Easter and Christmas congregations -- will be at their pandemic-restricted size limits with members of the congregation spread out in socially distanced seating.