NEW YORK — Hundreds of Catholics filled St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 7 a.m. Wednesday as Archbishop Ronald Hicks celebrated his first Ash Wednesday Mass in New York, marking the beginning of the Lenten season with prayer, repentance, and the distribution of ashes.

The faithful lined the marble aisles to receive ashes on their foreheads, a visible sign of humility and conversion at the start of the Church’s 40-day journey toward Easter. Throughout the liturgy, Archbishop Hicks led the congregation in prayer and later distributed ashes, tracing the sign of the cross as worshippers bowed their heads.

In his homily, he reflected on the meaning behind the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, encouraging Catholics to focus not only on what they give up, but why.

“If I surveyed you of what you’re going to do for Lent…almsgiving, prayer, and fasting, we would have 100,000 different examples, and that’s good. You know what you need. God knows what you need. But no matter what you do, I invite you to reflect on why you are doing it, and hopefully we can agree that what we do this Lent will help to renew and strengthen our relationship with the Lord and help to keep God in the center of our lives.”

He also read from Pope Leo’s message for Lent, urging the faithful to fast from harmful speech.

“Let us begin by describing our language. Avoiding harsh words and rash judgments, refraining from slander, and speaking ill of those who are not present. They cannot defend themselves. Instead, he said, let us try to measure our words and cultivate kindness and respect in our families, among our friends.”

After Mass, Archbishop Hicks spoke with reporters about his Lenten message for New Yorkers.

“My Lenten mission for New Yorkers is simply this: embrace something that you yourself can either do or give up that is going to help you in your own spiritual life, to keep God in the center of your life. We fill our lives, our center, with so many things. If we can fill that center with God’s goodness, with God’s help, with God’s peace, with God’s mercy, that’s my message for all.”

Asked about his first weeks in New York, the archbishop said he has been struck by the warmth of the welcome.

“I would say the one thing that has stood out has been the friendliness, the enthusiasm, the overall welcome. I’m actually stopped on the streets and it’s by Catholic and non-Catholics alike, just welcoming me to New York, wanting the best for me.”

He added with a smile that some have even teased him about his Chicago baseball loyalties.

“They’ll say, hey, we get that you’re a Cubs fan, but we’re going to get you to a Yankees game or a Mets game. It’s been great conversation, and I’ve just been delighted by it.”

As Lent begins, Archbishop Hicks encouraged Catholics across the archdiocese to enter the season with purpose, watching our words and offering our sacrifices and prayers to draw closer to God.