Vatican City, Feb 6, 2005 / 22:00 pm
With Wednesday being the start of Lent, the Vatican announced that Cardinal James Francis Stafford, major penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary will preside in the Pope's name at the celebration of Ash Wednesday Mass this year.
The Office for Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, announced that the ceremony, which will take place in the Vatican Basilica, will substitute the traditional Wednesday general audience.
According to a communique, The introductory rites will be followed by the liturgy of the Word, a homily, the blessing and imposition of the ashes, the prayer of the faithful and the concluding rites.
The Vatican also announced that Cardinal Jozef Tomko, president of the Pontifical Commission for International Eucharist Congresses and titular of the Basilica of St Sabina in Rome will celebrate Mass in that church at 5 p.m. on Wednesday as well.