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
