What Phila. Archdiocese plans for Lent

As part of its bicentennial celebration, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia will mark this year's Lenten season with a special schedule for confessions called Pardon and Peace.

Beginning February 13, every church in the archdiocese will be open for confessions on Wednesday nights from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Lent is the 40-day penitential season of prayer and sacrifice for Catholics and some other Christian churches that begins tomorrow, Ash Wednesday and continues through Holy Thursday, in preparation for Easter, which will be March 23.

Orthodox churches will celebrate Easter on April 27.

Tomorrow Auxiliary Bishop Daniel E. Thomas will celebrate Mass starting at 12:05 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul and distribute ashes after the homily.

The ashes, traditionally made from burnt palm, are intended to remind the faithful of their mortality.