On Wednesday, February 18th, the Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn, will celebrate Ash Wednesday Mass at noon at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James, 250 Cathedral Place, Downtown Brooklyn.

To mark the beginning of the Lenten Season, Bishop DiMarzio will bless and distribute ashes on the foreheads of congregants during the Mass. “The season of Lent is the time when we are asked to firm up our faith, when we are to give special attention to training our will so that we can love God all the more,” said Bishop DiMarzio.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 40 day Christian observance in the liturgical year that ends with the celebration of the Sacred Triduum, the three holiest days of the year that lead to Easter Sunday: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil.

As is customary, the ashes to be used on Ash Wednesday will come from the burning of the blessed branches used on Palm Sunday of the previous year. Palm Sunday, also known as Passion Sunday, is the Sunday before Easter that commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It also marks the beginning of Holy Week. This year, Easter Sunday will be celebrated on April 5.