"Ashes to go" as Southeast Wisconsin and places beyond mark Ash Wednesday and the start of lent

Pope Francis celebrated Ash Wednesday mass, anointing the faithful with ashes made from the burned remains of Palms from last Palm Sunday.

This marks the beginning of fasting that occurs during lent leading up to Easter.

Among those gathered at the Vatican was a group from war torn Ukraine who joined the Pontiff in a prayer for peace.

Milwaukee's Archbishop marked Ash Wednesday at Pius XI High School.

Archbishop Jerome Listecki encouraged Catholics to be more charitable and use the 40 days of fasting to prepare for the celebration of Easter, April 5th.

By giving up certain things during Lent, the Archbishop says it should help people focus on the really important things in life.

For those who couldn't make it to a service today, some churches offered ashes to go.

CBS 58 News stopped by one drive-thru held in a State Farm insurance office parking lot  in Menomonee Falls.

\"We join to gather as churches to be able to bring the word of God out into the streets,\" explained Pastor Lorrie Wenzel St. Paul's United Church of Christ. \"Like we did last year to bring the imposition of ashes to people who would like to have the ashes on them.\"

Last year, some 100 people took them up on the officer of ashes to go.