Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., archbishop of Newark, will celebrate two Masses on Ash Wednesday, March 5, at St. Patrick’s Pro-Cathedral in Newark. A Mass in English be celebrated at noon and a Mass in Spanish will take place at 7:30 p.m.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a sacred season of prayer, fasting and repentance leading up to Easter. During the Mass, ashes — made from burned palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm Sunday — are placed on the foreheads of the faithful in the shape of a cross as a sign of humility and penance. The priest administering the ashes will say, “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19).
Reflecting on the meaning of Ash Wednesday, Cardinal Tobin previously said: “We rend our hearts this day in preparation for all the days when our hearts have been closed to the sufferings of our sisters and brothers. Because God has mercy on us, now is the day of salvation.”
Throughout Lent, Catholics observe traditions such as fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, abstaining from eating meat on Fridays, engaging in prayer and almsgiving and making personal sacrifices to grow in faith. Lent concludes Holy Thursday, April 17, leading into the celebration of Easter.
Learn more about the writer ...
Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, an organization he has served since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on social media channels such as YouTube, Facebook, and X, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to Kearny to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.