By Abuchi Onwumelu
As Christians all over the world begin the observation of the Lenten Season, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, has described Lenten Season as a period of penitence, fasting, prayers and reconciliation.
The chief shepherd of Awka Diocese who stated this at St. Martin’s Catholic Church, Ifitedunu, in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, shortly after blessing a Grotto of Our Lady of Perpetual Help built by Mr. and Mrs Nzeakor, urged Christians to uphold prayers to enable them to overcome the myriads of challenges in Nigeria.
The Local Ordinary thanked God for the commencement of the Lenten Season, stating that all Christians were marked with ash reminding them that they were made of ash and unto it, they would return.
Bishop Ezeokafor asked Christians to pray fervently for peace, repent and believe in the gospel, adding that when they fasted it kept them in tune with what God wanted them to do.
He maintained that every government had the primary responsibility of taking care of her citizens and appealed to the Federal Government to stop the incessant killings in the country and also arrest the perpetrators to restore peace to the nation.
Meanwhile, Catholic faithful last Wednesday at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka, who came to celebrate Ash Wednesday, wore black attires to mourn the victims of killings in the country, as well as those kidnapped.
This was part of the directive of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) that the faithful should march against insecurity and incessant bloodshed in the country.
The Catholic Bishops directed the faithful to appear in black clothes, pray and do penance for souls that were wasted by suspected Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram and other insurgents in the country. They were also charged to unite in prayers for peace and security in Nigeria.