Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien, Archbishop of Baltimore, and the auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese of Baltimore will celebrate the following Ash Wednesday Masses on February 25, 2009:
Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien
The Baltimore Basilica, Cathedral Street, Downtown, 12:10 p.m.
The Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, 5200 N. Charles Street, 5:30 p.m.
Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski
Archbishop Spalding High School, 8080 New Cut Road, Severn 9:30 a.m.
St. Jane Francis de Chantal Church, 8499 Virginia Ave., Pasadena, 7 p.m.
Bishop Denis J. Madden
John Carroll School, 703 E. Churchville Rd., Bel Air, 1 p.m.
The Baltimore Basilica, Cathedral Street, Downtown, 5:30 p.m.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the 40-day period when the Catholic Church asks the faithful to give themselves to prayer and to the reading of the Scripture, to fasting and to giving alms, in an effort to sharpen their senses and focus mind and heart on the reign of God.
The Archdiocese is also promoting the sacrament of Reconciliation, also known as penance or confession, during the Lenten season. All Catholic churches in the Archdiocese will make the sacrament available on Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. starting Wednesday, March 4.
Archbishop O’Brien will speak to the media prior to the start of Mass on the Basilica portico, and will address the significance of Ash Wednesday and Lent, as well as the Reconciliation campaign, The Light is on for You.
Easter is Sunday, April 12.