As Catholics mark the beginning of Lent, Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien will celebrate two Ash Wednesday Masses on Feb. 17 in Baltimore – a 12:10 p.m. liturgy at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin and a 5:30 p.m. liturgy at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen.
Lent is the 40-day period when the Catholic Church asks the faithful to pray, read the Scripture, fast and give alms in preparation for Easter.
For the second consecutive year, the archdiocese is promoting the sacrament of Reconciliation, also known as penance or confession, during the Lenten season. All parishes will make the sacrament available on Wednesdays beginning Feb. 24. Each parish will set its own schedule.
The campaign is called “The Light is on for You” and was first initiated in the Archdiocese of Washington several years ago. It utilizes billboards, bus, Internet and TV ads to encourage Catholics in the Archdiocese of Baltimore to reconnect with the sacrament.
For more information about “The Light is on for You,” contact your parish or visit www.archbalt.org.