On Wednesday, February 10th, hundreds of Catholics will come to Brooklyn’s historic Cathedral Basilica of St. James in observance of Ash Wednesday.

The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn, will bless ashes and mark the foreheads of congregants as he celebrates a noon Mass at 250 Cathedral Place, Downtown Brooklyn.

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–HolyThursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil–which lead to Easter Sunday.

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 PassionSunday, 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 March 27.