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February 2026

Archives for February 2026

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PDF of Press Release

W H A T | Ash Wednesday Masses – Lent Begins

W H E N | Wednesday Feb. 18, Masses at 7 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 5:15 p.m.

W H E R E | Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains & St. Monica-St George Church

Release Date:  February 17, 2026

Ash Wednesday Liturgies Tomorrow 

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati, along with Catholics around the world, will celebrate Ash Wednesday tomorrow, Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent in the Catholic Church in preparation for Easter (that will fall on Sunday, April 5). Ash Wednesday is an obligatory day of fasting, one full meal and two smaller meals that together do not add up to the one full meal, and abstinence from meat for Catholics.

Archbishop Robert G. Casey will celebrate Mass and distribute ashes at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains in Cincinnati at 11:30 a.m.

A reminder for the media, in the Catholic Church, the distribution of ashes takes place within the context of a liturgical celebration. Ashes are a sacramental sign connected to prayers, scripture and communal worship. For this reason, the Church does not promote or endorse a “thrive-thru” model of distribution detached from prayer and liturgy. Ash Wednesday is not simply about receiving ashes; it is a day of repentance, prayer, fasting and worship. During the pandemic while some dioceses temporarily adapted their pastoral practices, those measures were extraordinary and not the normative expression of the Church’s liturgical life.

If members of the media are interested in live broadcasts or b-roll coverage of Ash Wednesday, the following locations and times are open for media. No advance notice is needed.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains: 7:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Mass

St. Monica-St. George Church, 328 W. McMillan St., Cincinnati, OH: 8 a.m., 12 p.m., 7 p.m. Mass

St. Monica-St. George Parish is home to Catholic Bearcat, a ministry to the students at the University of Cincinnati. Catholic Bearcat exists to provide encounters with Jesus through the Sacraments, discipleship, and inspiring hearts for mission. The goal is for all students at the University of Cincinnati to know Jesus Christ through the Catholic Church. Every week hundreds of students encounter Jesus through Bible studies, free meals, formation, and the Sacraments.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 45th largest Catholic diocese in the country, with nearly 440,000 Catholics, and has the fifth largest Catholic school system in terms of enrollment with more than 41,000 students.  The 19-county territory includes 199 canonical parishes organized into 57 Families of Parishes, and 111 Catholic primary and secondary schools.

 

Jennifer Schack

Director of Media Relations

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Office | 513.263.6618

Cell | 859.512.5626

[email protected]

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Deacon Susano “Sal” Mascorro, a deacon of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, died on February 10, 2026 at the age of 93.

Deacon Mascorro was ordained October 15, 1972 in the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas. Shortly after his ordination, he and his wife Maria Elisa moved to the Dayton area as part of his employment with the Air Force Logistics Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in 1974. He was assigned to St. Helen Parish by then-Archbishop Joseph Bernadin.

During his ministry to the Church as a permanent deacon, Deacon Mascorro served with the Ohio Bishops Advisory Council, the Catholic Social Services of Miami Valley, and the Dayton Catholic Hispanic community.

In October, 2022, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati recognized the 50th anniversary of Deacon Mascorro’s ordination with a plaque and letter of recognition from then-Archbishop Dennis Schnurr, congratulating and thanking him for his 50 years of dedicated ministry to the Catholic Church.

At the time of his death, Deacon Mascorro had served the Church as a permanent deacon for fifty-three years.

Deacon Mascorro was preceded in death by his wife Maria Elisa, to whom he was married for 60 years. He is survived by his daughters Julieta (Steve), Marissa, Celina, and his son, Rene’, 9 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

You may read the full obituary for Deacon Susano on the Tobias Funeral Home website here:  Susano Mascorro Obituary

Please keep the repose of the soul of Deacon Susano Mascorro in your prayers, as well as peace and consolation for his entire family.

 

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Deacon James Walworth, Sr., a deacon of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, died on February 12, 2026 at the age of 71.

Deacon Walworth was ordained April 24, 2010 by Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr. Upon ordination, he was assigned to Holy Angels Parish, Dayton. In July, 2022, Deacon Jim and his wife Kathleen moved to Naples, Florida. There, he received faculties to serve at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in the Diocese of Venice, Florida, by Bishop Frank Dewane.

Deacon Jim served the Church as a Permanent Deacon for fifteen years.

Deacon Jim is survived by his wife, Mary Kathleen; his children, James (Amy) Walworth, Dan (Kelly) Walworth, Mary Walworth, and Anne-Marie (Adam) Potter; and his ten grandchildren.

Deacon Jim’s cremains will be brought to Dayton for interment.

You may read Deacon Jim’s obituary at the funeral home’s website here: James “Jim” Walworth Obituary

Please keep the repose of the soul of Deacon James Walworth, Sr. in your prayers, as well as peace and consolation for his entire family.

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PDF of Press Release

W H A T | Veneration of the relic of Saint Carlo Acutis

W H E N | Tuesday, Feb. 10 through Thursday, Feb. 12

W H E R E | Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains: 325 W. 8th St., Cincinnati OH

Release Date:  February 6, 2026

Relic of Newest Teenage Saint on Display in Cincinnati Next Week

A rare First-Class pilgrim relic of Saint Carlo Acutis will be available for public veneration February 10-12 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains, offering the faithful a unique opportunity to encounter one of the Church’s newest saints.

The relic is a portion of the saint’s pericardium, the membrane that surrounds and protects the heart, making it a relic of profound physical, spiritual, and theological significance. It measures 6 cm in length and 2 cm in height and is preserved in a reliquary 33 cm high and 17 cm wide. It is carried worldwide by the Diocese of Assisi, the official custodian of the relics of Saint Carlo Acutis, in full accordance with Church guidelines.

The relic will be accompanied by Monsignor Anthony Figueriredo, Director of International Affairs and Custodian of the Pericardium Relic of Saint Carlo Acutis for the Diocese of Assisi, Italy. Monsignor Figueriredo will offer special talks during the visit, providing insight into the life, spirituality, and enduring witness of Saint Carlo, as well as the significance of the relic itself. Blessed Carlo Acutis was canonized a saint by Pope Leo XIV, less than 6 months ago, on September 7, 2025.

Physiologically, the pericardium is a sac containing fluid that stabilizes and safeguards the heart and major blood vessels, protecting the body’s most vital organ. Spiritually, the heart has always held deep meaning in the Christian tradition as the seat of love, intention, and relationship with God: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart” (Dt 6:5; Mt 22:37).

From early childhood, Carlo desired a living and personal relationship with Jesus. He received First Holy Communion at the age of seven, telling his parents that day, “Always to be united to Jesus. This is my programme of life.” He nurtured this relationship through what has come to be known as his “programme of life,” centered on five simple but powerful practices: frequent reception of the Eucharist, Eucharistic Adoration, regular Confession and spiritual direction, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints, and concrete acts of charity. Through these practices, Carlo showed that holiness is possible—here and now—for everyone.

Pope Leo XIV highlighted this “programme of life” during his homily to one million young people at the Jubilee of Youth in Rome on August 3, 2025, urging them to follow the example of Saint Carlo Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati:

“Jesus is our hope … Let us remain united to him, let us remain in his friendship, always, cultivating it through prayer, adoration, Eucharistic Communion, frequent Confession, and generous charity… Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are. Do not settle for less.”

The Holy Father reiterated this message during the Mass and Canonization of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis on September 7, 2025, emphasizing that their path to holiness was marked by simple, accessible practices lived with extraordinary love. Quoting Carlo directly, he recalled the young saint’s words: “In front of the sun, you get a tan. In front of the Eucharist, you become a saint!”

The three-day veneration at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains will include Masses, prayer opportunities, special talks, devotional practices, and time for personal veneration of the relic. All are invited to come, learn about Saint Carlo Acutis, and grow closer to Christ through the example of this modern saint whose life continues to inspire the Church today.

See full schedule for the 3-days of veneration: https://cathedralaoc.org/relic-of-st-carlo-acutis/

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 45th largest Catholic diocese in the country, with nearly 440,000 Catholics, and has the fifth largest Catholic school system in terms of enrollment with more than 41,000 students.  The 19-county territory includes 199 canonical parishes organized into 57 Families of Parishes, and 111 Catholic primary and secondary schools.

 

Jennifer Schack

Director of Media Relations

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Office | 513.263.6618

Cell | 859.512.5626

[email protected]

 

 

 

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PDF of Letter (ENG) | PDF of Letter (HAI-CRE)

February 1, 2026

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Greetings and prayerful best wishes at the beginning of a new year, which brings with it the hope of peace and prosperity for all.

Unfortunately, however, these are increasingly divisive and disturbing times for our country and our world.  Those who live on the margins of society are frightened.  In particular, our immigrant brothers and sisters find themselves challenged and facing an uncertain future.  The key question in a moment like this is, “Who are we?”  We must remind ourselves of the fundamental importance of our being, recognizing that who we are can offer a counterpoint to what the world around us has become.

All of humanity possesses a dignity given to us as God’s creation.  Each of us, no matter our race, language, or creed, has been created in God’s image and likeness.  Only with this conviction of our sacred and shared identity as God’s sons and daughters can we hope to boldly proclaim the possibility of peace amidst the uproar of these distressing times.

As Christians, we profess a God who entered into our humanity and lived amidst the challenges of this world – as a refugee child fleeing his homeland, as an itinerant preacher without a home and dependent on others’ kindness, and as a misunderstood minister who was deemed a criminal and faced persecution and death on a cross.  The life of Jesus challenges us to consider how we treat those who are refugees, those who are seeking a home, and those who are unjustly deemed criminals.

Since its founding, this nation has been a refuge for those fleeing war, poverty, and persecution elsewhere in the world.  “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” our Statue of Liberty proclaims.  Throughout its history, our nation has strived to recognize the dignity of human life and to care for the common good of our society.

The Church, forming its members as faithful citizens of this nation, affirms the importance of laws that secure the safety and security of all who call this nation home.  As such, the U.S. Catholic bishops recognize that a nation must have control of its borders and establish orderly processes for immigration.  However, our immigration laws, legal processes, and systems must recognize and respect the God-given dignity of every person and serve to help us be one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.

The blanket criminalization of migrants, together with the indiscriminate mass deportation of people, places our nation in crisis and does not serve the common good.  For decades, the U.S. Catholic bishops have called for legislators to set aside partisan differences and work together toward the reform of our immigration laws.  This call has greater urgency today.  The common good demands more than simply discarding policies of the past.  It calls for thoughtful plans that promote fairness in the immigration system as well as protect and strengthen our communities.

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has become a home to many families seeking to escape poverty, violence, and persecution in their home countries.  Families from Haiti, Venezuela, and elsewhere have been welcomed and have begun to contribute to their new home.  Springfield, for example, has faced remarkable challenges in recent years, yet it has also created a promising future for itself by productively integrating migrant newcomers into its workforce, communities, churches, and schools.  Mass deportation jeopardizes the unity of families and the stability of communities that have worked hard to integrate their new members.

Along with my brother bishops, your pastors, and other Church leaders, I offer you my support and spiritual closeness as you navigate the way forward.  May we never grow weary in our efforts to end the dehumanizing and demonizing rhetoric that seeks to overtake us.  May we treat each other with the dignity and respect, mercy and compassion due our brothers and sisters.  And may God bless us with the discipline to strive tirelessly to bring about justice for all.

Profoundly grateful for all those who advance the principles of life, dignity, and the common good, I join with all people of goodwill in a commitment to continued prayer and action that promotes peace and seeks prosperity for all.

In Christ,

Most Reverend Robert G. Casey

Archbishop of Cincinnati