Palm Sunday is over and the Altar Guild is preparing the Sacristy for perhaps the busiest week of the year, Holy Week. What is to be done with those leftover consecrated palms?
Put them aside carefully and on a quiet day when there is no fire danger burn them and prepare the ashes for next year’s Ash Wednesday.
Using a large fireproof receptacle (a tin can will do), cut the palms into pieces and set fire to them. After the fire has gone out, place a square of metal screening over another container and using a small brush, a toothbrush works well, rub the burned ashes through the screening. Label and store this fine ash in a closed container in the sacristy until it is needed.
Dig a hole and bury the leftover ashes in the ground.