March 5, 2025

Bishop Byrne celebrates Ash Wednesday Mass; blesses Stations of the Cross

REGIONAL
Story and photo by Carolee McGrath

SPRINGFIELD – Bishop William D. Byrne celebrated the 12:10 p.m. Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Springfield on Ash Wednesday, March 5. The cathedral was crowded for the daily Mass as Ash Wednesday kicks off the beginning of Lent, a season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

Bishop Byrne reminded the congregation, that the reason Catholics abstain throughout Lent is to grow closer to Jesus, who suffered and died for their sins.

“The reason why we give something up, is to remember, to know God and experience his love for us. We take care of the poor so we can see the face of God in the most vulnerable,” said Bishop Byrne.

After the homily, Bishop Byrne blessed the ashes before distributing them. Lent is a 40-day period in which Catholics prepare for Jesus’ resurrection on Easter. The faithful are called to penance and conversion and to unite their sacrifice to the trials Jesus, who withstood for 40 days in the desert, and death on a cross.

In his social media post, Bishop Byrne encouraged his followers to ask St. Michael the Archangel, to guard them during the Lenten season against temptation.

“Make him the patron of your Lent, to fight the evil one from within, and from without,” he said.

At the end of Mass, the bishop blessed the newly installed Stations of the Cross in the cathedral which were acquired from an older church in the Archdiocese of Boston.