Ash Wednesday services, Lenten events planned in Cherokee County

March 04, 2025

by Staff reports

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Several area churches have planned Ash Wednesday services to mark the start of the Lenten season, which begins this year on March 5. Services include those at:

St. Matthew United Methodist Church in Jacksonville will host a 6:30 p.m. Ash Wednesday service at the 201 S. Bonner church.

Rusk – United Methodist Church, located at 255 S. Henderson St., offers an Ash Wednesday service beginning at 6 p.m.

Jacksonville First Methodist Church, A Global Methodist Community, also will offer a 6 p.m. Ash Wednesday Service at its 1031 SE Loop 456 church.

In Troup, the local First Methodist Church will have two opportunities on March 5: Drive-by services will be from noon to 2 p.m., followed at 6 p.m. with an indoor service at the 202 East Duval St. church.

Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Rusk will offer an 8 a.m. English and a 6:30 p.m. Spanish Ash Wednesday liturgy at 760 S. Main St. During the Fridays of Lent, Sacred Heart will pray the Way of the Cross at 6 p.m. in English and 7 p.m. in Spanish. The parish also will host Lenten fish fries, starting on Ash Wednesday, then held every Friday of Lent, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 4-8 p.m.

Jacksonville’s Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church will offer several Ash Wednesday services: 9 a.m. (English), noon (English), 6 p.m. (English) and 7 p.m. Spanish. Las Via Cruces will be prayed 7 p.m. Thursdays and Stations of the Cross 6 p.m. Fridays during Lent, followed each of those nights by Mass and adoration until 9:30 p.m. Fridays during Lent, the local Knights of Columbus Council will host fish fries at the parish hall from 5-7 p.m.