W H A T | Ash Wednesday / Start of Lent
W H E N | Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023, 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: 325 W. 8th St., Cincinnati OH
Release Date: Feb. 21, 2023
Lent Begins this Week
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati, along with Catholics around the world, will observe Ash Wednesday, on Wednesday, February 22. Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent in the Catholic Church in preparation for Easter, which is April 9 this year. Ash Wednesday is an obligatory day of fasting. Fasting includes one full meal and two smaller meals that together do not add up to the one full meal. Ash Wednesday is also a day of abstinence from meat for Catholics. It is not a holy day of obligation. More information about fasting and abstinence from meat can be found here.
Ash Wednesday Masses will include the distribution of ashes. Masses at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains in Cincinnati will be at 7 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr will celebrate the 11:30 a.m. Mass at the cathedral basilica.
The Ultimate Guide to Lent is returning this year for its fourth Lenten season. This inspirational and helpful digital guide offers tools to help the faithful have a life-changing Lent. It includes information on traditional Lenten observances, local Lenten traditions, ways to observe Lent as a family, and vegetarian recipes. Individuals can sign up for the Ultimate Guide to Lent here.
The Fish Fry Guide is also returning for 2023. Information about Fish Frys in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati can be found here.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 51st largest Catholic diocese in the country, with around 435,000 Catholics, and has the fifth largest Catholic school system in terms of enrollment with nearly 40,000 students. The 19-county territory includes 208 canonical parishes organized into 57 Families of Parishes, and 113 Catholic primary and secondary schools.
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Jennifer Schack
Director of Media Relations
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Office | 513.263.6618
Cell | 859.512.5626
