Ash Wednesday will be observed in churches and at DUMBO’s Archway

March 4, 2014 By Francesca Norsen Tate, Religion Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, will celebrate the noontime Mass on Wednesday, March 5, at St. James Cathedral Basilica (250 Cathedral Place, just north of Tillary St.) to mark Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season.

Bishop DiMarzio will distribute the ashes on the foreheads of congregants during the Mass. As is customary, the ashes used on Ash Wednesday are made by burning the blessed palms from Palm Sunday the previous year. Palm Sunday, the immediate Sunday before Easter, commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It also marks the beginning of Holy Week.

The bishop will include special prayers for the people of Syria, Ukraine, and Venezuela, as they struggle with political instability, violence and conflict.

Lent, the Christian observance of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday, is a 40-day session of penitence and preparation for the commemoration of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are both days of fasting (one full meal allowed) and abstinence from meat. It ends with the celebration of the Sacred Triduum, the three holiest days of the year: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. Easter Sunday will be celebrated this year on April 20.

As part of outreach to Brooklyn Heights and Downtown Brooklyn, the clergy will also bring ashes to people in DUMBO. Ashes will be distributed at the Archway, 50 Adams St. at Water Street, on Wednesday, March 5. Times are 8:30 a.m., noon and 5:30 p.m.Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church (55 Cranberry St.) will distribute ashes at the 8 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Masses on Ash Wednesday, March 5.

Ashes will be distributed at St. Charles Borromeo Church (21 Sidney Place) at 12:10 pm, 5:30 pm and 7 p.m. A Children’s service with distribution of ashes will also be offered at 4 p.m.

St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (Episcopal, Clinton and Montague streets) offers the Imposition of Ashes at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. noon and 2 p.m. An Organ Meditation will be offered at 1:10 p.m. The Holy Eucharist liturgy will be offered at 7 p.m. This is a time change from the regular weekly Wednesday evening service.

Grace Church-Brooklyn Heights (Episcopal, 254 Hicks St.) offers the Holy Eucharist and Liturgy for Ash Wednesday at 7:30 a.m., noon and 7:30 p.m.