About four weeks ago they started asking everyone to leave their fronds from Palm Sunday in collection barrels in the narthex. Apparently enough people stick them up behind the crucifix for a year (we always have, even before we were Catholic.) I think they save a few boxes of palms as well.
It's mixed with a little oil to make it stick, makes a good dark mark.
I wore mine all day, but took a riding lesson this afternoon, and riding helmet + sweat = no more ashes on the forehead.
Yes, of course, this is the proper way to go. Our parish is small enough that Father need only save the palm fronds used to decorate the Church on Palm Sunday. These provide ample supply for Ash Monday, but I like your parish's approach. I too enwrap the Crucifixes with palms and leave them there all year. Gotta love a pastor who advocates 'recycling'. I'm never quite certain of how to properly dispose of blessed palms. Perhaps we should pose this question to Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university, who posts responses to the Zenit News web site.
It's mixed with a little oil to make it stick, makes a good dark mark.
As I just posted to 'Mercat', the Maronite priests first bless the ashes then sprinkle Holy Water on them 3x. Then they mix this together to form a fairly heavy liquid substance that is 'painted' on the penitent's forehead with the words: "Remember that your are dust and unto dust you shall return". ALL present, including infants, are given equal distribution of the ashes. This mixture adheres to the forehead like glue ;-)
I wore mine all day, but took a riding lesson this afternoon, and riding helmet + sweat = no more ashes on the forehead.
Next year, you may want to apply a strip of indellible tape ;-) That should preseve them until you are ready to pull it off.