Bishop Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn which includes Queens, today marked the start of Lent with the celebration of Ash Wednesday Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James located in Downtown Brooklyn.
“This time of Lent, along with the classic practices of Lent, that we heard about in the Gospel today, prayer, fasting and works of mercy, gives us the chance to invite Jesus in. We often call him the Divine Physician, maybe today we can call him the Divine Builder, to go in, to dig down deep, and to bring about whatever healing and conversion is necessary,” said Bishop Brennan in his homily.
At the conclusion of his homily, Bishop Brennan blessed and distributed ashes.
Ash Wednesday also marks the start of the 2026 Diocesan Lenten Pilgrimage in Brooklyn and Queens. This year’s Lenten Pilgrimage is dedicated to the Jubilee for St. Francis, which Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed to mark the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi’s death.
The fourth annual pilgrimage invites the faithful to visit a different parish each weekday and on Saturdays during Lent. Individual parishes are designated on specific dates and will offer opportunities for Mass, prayer, and reflection during these visits. The complete schedule can be found online at https://lent.dioceseofbrooklyn.org/.
Lent ends with the celebration of the Sacred Triduum, the three holiest days on the Christian calendar: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil. This year, Easter Sunday will be celebrated on April 5.
Monsignor Joseph Grimaldi, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Brooklyn, and Father Joseph Gibino, the Rector of the Cathedral Basilica of St. James concelebrated the Mass and also distributed ashes.
VIDEO: https://vimeo.com/1166128814
The photos attached are courtesy of John Quaglione/Diocese of Brooklyn.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Adriana Rodriguez
(646) 241-9805
adrodriguez@diobrook.org
John Quaglione
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jquaglione@diobrook.org
