Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have volunteer work this Wednesday and SR will stop by to distribute ashes at the office. I know my volunteer supervisor and some of team members might keep ashes on. Should I say “Happy Ash Wednesday?” Does “Have a good lent” sound more appropriate? Or should I not say anything at all? Sorry for being clueless but would like to be polite when I see them this Wednesday. Thank you for your help!

"Have a good lent"?! This is too stupid for words.
Say nothing.

Don’t listen to this troll trying to make Catholics look bigoted. Saying “Happy Lent” is completely fine. It is a day to practice humility and generosity. It isn’t a time that people will be easily offended.

I’m a Catholic. Not this poster but a Catholic. Happy Lent is inappropriate and verges on disrespectful because you don’t know anything about my religion but decide to throw a “happy” in front of Lent because you couldn’t be bothered to learn anything about it. PP, I may not speak for all Catholics but you don’t either…

This just goes to show that no matter what you do, you're bound to offend someone.

So just ignore and don't say anything. Sadly, those are the days that we're living in. Instead of being touched that someone is looking to recognize your holy day, someone will be angry at you.

-Former Catholic

This just goes to show that atheists will grasp at anything to make spiteful comments.

Not really. Both alleged Catholics above with totally opposing views. One offended (even going so far as to say the comment is disrespectful), one saying it's fine. It's a lose-lose here for OP so say nothing. There's always going to be that over the top, psycho religious person who will be offended. So walk away and say nothing to them. Usually the safest bet.

Wow, you’re really invested in poking holes in somebody else’s religion, with these longish posts, aren’t you.

I’d go with either saying nothing at all, or asking them if they did anything to celebrate Mardi Gras. There’s no customary greeting for Protestants. You may get coworkers bringing in leftover King cake and donuts that they don’t want to keep at home though. That’s a nice bonus of sharing office space with people from different backgrounds.

Anonymous wrote:OP was asking a question to not give offense which is considerate.

I think the way to look at is that Ash Wednesday is not a celebration but a signifier of the start of lent which is a period of reflection and prayer before Easter which is the celebration. Catholics don't have a greeting for each other on Ash Wednesday, so wouldn't be expecting a greeting from anyone catholic or not on that day about it.

Here's the thing. It's not offensive to wish someone a Happy Ash Wednesday. If you say that to me, I'm going to think "not Catholic" but I'm not going to take offense. It's like wishing someone a Merry Hanukkah or telling them to enjoy Yom Kippur. A tell that that person doesn't share your religion.

But OP asked because she wanted to know the expected greeting. And what Catholics expect (as in what they'd do for each other) on Ash Wednesday is either, no comment, or conversation (Where did you go this morning, oh I really liked the service I went to there once!), or in this case where it sounds like the SR students are coming in as an act of service for clients that OP serves, perhaps a "thank you for coming".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have volunteer work this Wednesday and SR will stop by to distribute ashes at the office. I know my volunteer supervisor and some of team members might keep ashes on. Should I say “Happy Ash Wednesday?” Does “Have a good lent” sound more appropriate? Or should I not say anything at all? Sorry for being clueless but would like to be polite when I see them this Wednesday. Thank you for your help!

"Have a good lent"?! This is too stupid for words.
Say nothing.

Don’t listen to this troll trying to make Catholics look bigoted. Saying “Happy Lent” is completely fine. It is a day to practice humility and generosity. It isn’t a time that people will be easily offended.

I’m a Catholic. Not this poster but a Catholic. Happy Lent is inappropriate and verges on disrespectful because you don’t know anything about my religion but decide to throw a “happy” in front of Lent because you couldn’t be bothered to learn anything about it. PP, I may not speak for all Catholics but you don’t either…

This just goes to show that no matter what you do, you're bound to offend someone.

So just ignore and don't say anything. Sadly, those are the days that we're living in. Instead of being touched that someone is looking to recognize your holy day, someone will be angry at you.

-Former Catholic

This just goes to show that atheists will grasp at anything to make spiteful comments.

Not really. Both alleged Catholics above with totally opposing views. One offended (even going so far as to say the comment is disrespectful), one saying it's fine. It's a lose-lose here for OP so say nothing. There's always going to be that over the top, psycho religious person who will be offended. So walk away and say nothing to them. Usually the safest bet.

You don’t say Happy Yom Kippur and you don’t say Happy Lent.

Happy Fat Tuesday, Happy Easter, indeed he has risen (on Easter) all okay

Happy lent and happy Good Friday … not appropriate

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have volunteer work this Wednesday and SR will stop by to distribute ashes at the office. I know my volunteer supervisor and some of team members might keep ashes on. Should I say “Happy Ash Wednesday?” Does “Have a good lent” sound more appropriate? Or should I not say anything at all? Sorry for being clueless but would like to be polite when I see them this Wednesday. Thank you for your help!

"Have a good lent"?! This is too stupid for words.
Say nothing.

Don’t listen to this troll trying to make Catholics look bigoted. Saying “Happy Lent” is completely fine. It is a day to practice humility and generosity. It isn’t a time that people will be easily offended.

I’m a Catholic. Not this poster but a Catholic. Happy Lent is inappropriate and verges on disrespectful because you don’t know anything about my religion but decide to throw a “happy” in front of Lent because you couldn’t be bothered to learn anything about it. PP, I may not speak for all Catholics but you don’t either…

This just goes to show that no matter what you do, you're bound to offend someone.

So just ignore and don't say anything. Sadly, those are the days that we're living in. Instead of being touched that someone is looking to recognize your holy day, someone will be angry at you.

-Former Catholic

This just goes to show that atheists will grasp at anything to make spiteful comments.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have volunteer work this Wednesday and SR will stop by to distribute ashes at the office. I know my volunteer supervisor and some of team members might keep ashes on. Should I say “Happy Ash Wednesday?” Does “Have a good lent” sound more appropriate? Or should I not say anything at all? Sorry for being clueless but would like to be polite when I see them this Wednesday. Thank you for your help!

"Have a good lent"?! This is too stupid for words.
Say nothing.

Don’t listen to this troll trying to make Catholics look bigoted. Saying “Happy Lent” is completely fine. It is a day to practice humility and generosity. It isn’t a time that people will be easily offended.

I’m a Catholic. Not this poster but a Catholic. Happy Lent is inappropriate and verges on disrespectful because you don’t know anything about my religion but decide to throw a “happy” in front of Lent because you couldn’t be bothered to learn anything about it. PP, I may not speak for all Catholics but you don’t either…

This just goes to show that no matter what you do, you're bound to offend someone.

So just ignore and don't say anything. Sadly, those are the days that we're living in. Instead of being touched that someone is looking to recognize your holy day, someone will be angry at you.

-Former Catholic

Anonymous wrote:You really don't need to say anything ...

+1

You really don't need to say anything ...

Your ash is showing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"You've got some schmutz on your keppe."

Only if you want to show everybody you’re rude and bigoted.

Still funny.

OP was asking a question to not give offense which is considerate.

I think the way to look at is that Ash Wednesday is not a celebration but a signifier of the start of lent which is a period of reflection and prayer before Easter which is the celebration. Catholics don't have a greeting for each other on Ash Wednesday, so wouldn't be expecting a greeting from anyone catholic or not on that day about it.

It’s the 40 days in the desert.

It’s like working remote.

Good luck on your Lenten journey is a good salutation.