The Rev. Kerry R. Mansir smudges Bill Moulton with ashes in the shape of cross Wednesday during Ash Wednesday services at Christ Church on the Common, the Episcopal church in Gardiner. Mansir encouraged congregants to reflect on themselves, despite the proliferation of social media. “Look inward — even when it means noticing where we have fallen short,” she said during her Ash Wednesday sermon, the Christian celebration marking the start of Lent. “Paying less attention to how we present ourselves to others and more attention to how we actually treat others.” Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal

Ava Fisher, 6, walks with her mother, Monica, after the pair received communion during the Ash Wednesday service at Notre Dame Church, Corpus Christi Parish in Waterville. Six members of the Fisher family, from Vassalboro, attended the service, which drew about 300 people. Ash Wednesday — officially known as the Day of Ashes — is a day of repentance, when Christians confess their sins and profess their devotion to God. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

Michael Fisher holds daughter Cora, 2, as Connie Francoeur applies ash to Fisher’s forehead during the Imposition of the Ashes at the Ash Wednesday service at Notre Dame Church, Corpus Christi Parish in Waterville. The ashes are placed on the forehead in the Sign of the Cross. Cora squirmed away from the ashes, opting not to participate. Six members of the Fisher family, from Vassalboro, attended the service, which drew about 300 people. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

Cora Fisher, two, looks at the face of her mom Monica after ashes were spread on Monica’s forehead during the Imposition of the Ashes, part of the Ash Wednesday service at Notre Dame Church, Corpus Christi Parish in Waterville, Maine Wednesday, March 2, 2022. The ashes are placed on the forehead in the Sign of the Cross. The girl, who was carried by her dad Michael, squirmed away from the ashes when they were offered at the service. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

Alyssa Withee returns to her pew Wednesday after being smudged with ashes during Ash Wednesday services at Christ Church on the Common, the Episcopal church in Gardiner. Withee attended with her aunt, Patty Buck-Welton. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal

The Rev. Daniel Baillargeon marks the forehead of a parishioner with ash Wednesday during the Imposition of the Ashes at Notre Dame Church, Corpus Christi Parish in Waterville. The service drew about 300 people. Ash Wednesday — officially known as the Day of Ashes — is a day of repentance, when Christians confess their sins and profess their devotion to God. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

Rev. Daniel Baillargeon offers the introduction to the Liturgy of Word during the Notre Dame Church, Corpus Christi Parish’s Ash Wednesday service in Waterville, Maine Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Two services were held at Notre Dame and one at St. John the Baptist church in Winslow, Maine. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel