The solemn, six-week season of Lent will begin on Ash Wednesday, March 5.
Ash Wednesday is a day of fast and abstinence. Catholics ages 14 and older are to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and every Friday in Lent.
Unless excused due to illness, chronic disease, pregnant or nursing women, those who are 18-59 also are obligated to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (April 18). When fasting, a person can eat one full meal as well as two smaller meals that together do not equal a full meal.
Distribution of ashes will take place in churches across the eight-county Diocese of Cleveland. Check the parish website for details.
At the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Cleveland, ash distribution will take place during Masses at 7:15 and 11a.m., noon and 7 p.m. As usual, the noon Mass will be livestreamed on the diocesan website. Father Don Oleksiak, vicar general for the diocese, is scheduled to celebrate the noon liturgy on Ash Wednesday.
There will be no confessions in the cathedral on Ash Wednesday. The normal confession schedule at the cathedral is 6:30-7 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 3-4 p.m. on Saturdays.
The cathedral will have Stations of the Cross at 5:15 p.m. each Friday in Lent, beginning on March 7. Stations will be livestreamed on the diocesan website.
In addition to his weekly Scripture reflections, once again Bishop Edward Malesic will have a daily Lenten reflection.
Click here for a variety of Lenten resources offered by the diocese to help make the season more meaningful.
Fish fry listings submitted by parishes, schools and other entities in the diocese can be found here.
Click here to read a Lenten message from Pope Francis.
Additional Lenten resources from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops are available here.