Drive-thru Ash Wednesday hosted by Holy Cross Church in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.-A local Catholic Church is known for taking Ash Wednesday to the streets.

For the second year in a row Holy Cross Church of Cliff Dr. in Santa Barbara hosted a drive-thru Ash Wednesday event.

Holy Cross already has a drive-through style entrance.

Rev. Egren Gomez distributed ashes to people in their cars from 3-4 p.m.

Fr. Gomez called Ash Wednesday special this year because it coincided with Valentine's Day.

"The idea here is we want to make sure that everyone receives God's Valentines and we are going to offer ashes as a symbol, we are going to mark you with a cross, the symbol says you belong to me and I love you and this will be your way of proclaiming that good news to folks out there," said Fr. Gomez, " It is a 21st century way of doing it, so, we are driving through."

People also had a chance to go inside that church that has stained glass windows of the California missions. 

People of all faiths and those from others churches were welcomed at the drive-thru.

"Jesus was out in the streets looking for the ordinary man, the ordinary woman, and Ash Wednesday beings the 40 days of lent which are the holiest time of the year. They are a preparation for us to get to know deeper sense of god , a deeper sense of ourselves and to get closer to the community as well."

Fr. Gomez said he wants people to know they belong.

A bilingual mass followed at 6 p.m.

For more information visit https://www.holycrosssantabarbara.org