By Blessing Nneoma Nebo
His Lordship, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, has charged Christians to embrace prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as essential pillars of the Lenten Season.
In his Ash Wednesday homily at St Patrick’s old Cathedral Parish, Awka Wednesday, to herald this year’s Lenten Season, Bishop Ezeokafor reflected on the Gospel of the day, cautioning the faithful against hypocrisy in religious practices. He emphasized that acts of charity, prayer and fasting should not be done for public recognition, but in sincerity of heart, reminding the congregation that God, whom, he said, saw in secret, would reward them.
He described Lent as a sacred season of forty days in the Church, beginning with Ash Wednesday. According to him, the period was a time of spiritual renewal, marked by prayer, fasting and almsgiving. He encouraged the faithful to seek deeper conversion, renewed friendship with God, self-denial and meditation on the Word of God.
Quoting the teaching of Pope Leo XIV on the Lenten Season, Bishop Ezeokafor stressed the importance of fasting, praying, listening to one another, good conduct and fostering unity among Christians. He noted that Lent provided an opportunity for believers to grow in holiness and strengthen communal bonds.
Concluding his homily, Bishop Ezeokafor urged Christians to seek God’s guidance throughout the Lenten journey so as to do His will, follow His ways, and ultimately attain eternal life.
Following the homily, the celebration of the Holy Mass continued with the blessing of ashes, which formed the highlight of the liturgy. The ashes were administered on the foreheads of the faithful by the Bishop and other priests present.
In an interview with his Lordship, Ezeokafor, he reiterated the significance of the Lenten Season, describing it as a period of sacrifice and deeper commitment to God.
He stated that during Lent, Christians were expected to make personal sacrifices that would help them prepare worthily, for the celebration of Easter. According to him, the season called for genuine repentance, abstinence, and fasting, especially on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, in line with the Church’s tradition.
Bishop Ezeokafor explained that fasting and abstinence were not merely external observances but spiritual exercises aimed at strengthening believers and drawing them closer to God. He noted that through those practices, Christians grew in self-discipline, humility, and spiritual maturity.
He further urged the faithful to observe the Lenten Period devoutly, emphasizing that sincere participation in prayer, fasting, and acts of charity led to inner transformation and deeper union with God.
