Christians celebrate Ash Wednesday Mass in Newark
NEWARK, N.J. (PIX11) — The pews of St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral in Newark were packed Wednesday for Ash Wednesday Mass.
'Ash Wednesday is just a very important day where you recognize you're human and that you sin,' said Caroline Caputo, an NJIT student who attended the noon Mass.
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Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the archbishop of Newark, led Wednesday's Mass.
'I think what God wants us to do is heal what needs to be healed,' said Cardinal Tobin. 'And bring us to a closer relationship with God.'
'I'm not even from around here, but I came because I knew the cardinal was going to be here,' said Elizabeth Ruane, who traveled from North Arlington to attend Mass.
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'It's a beautiful cathedral,' said Josephine Nagel, who works nearby at Rutgers-Newark. 'It's a beautiful parish. The addition of the St. Benedict's Prep choir today was amazing. Really nice touch.'
The day is meant to symbolize mortality and repentance.
'It's such a wonderful way to start the Lenten season,' said Nancy Masterson-Newkirk, who attended the Mass.
'This church does it very well,' said NJIT student Dani Vito. 'I have come here two times. This is my second time in a row. And they do it amazingly. I brought up the gifts today, so that was really exciting for me.'
The Mass also featured a special prayer for Pope Francis, who remains hospitalized with double pneumonia.
'If you know Francis at all, he has a wonderful sense of humor and I'm sure that's part of what's getting him through these terrible moments,' said Cardinal Tobin.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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