The marking of ashes on the foreheads of Catholic faithful signals the start of the penitential season of Lent, which this year began on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, and culminates with the Easter Triduum, Holy Thursday through Easter Sunday, March 30-April 1. Bishop Larry Silva, shown here in purple liturgical vestments traditional for Lent, celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace and distributed ashes to parishioners there.