Special masses and services were held yesterday across churches in Awka and environs to commemorate this year’s Ash Wednesday which coincided with the feast of Saint Valentine.
At the churches visited, the liturgical vestments, robes and alter clothes have changed from white to violet or purple depicting the season of the church while Christians look calm and sober in readiness to journey with Christ for forty days of the Lenten season.
At the Cathedral Church Of Saint Faith Awka, clergymen in Anglican Diocese Of Awka converged with their wives to join in the spirituality and solemn movement which the Archbishop, Ecclesiastical Province of The Niger, Most Reverend Alexander Ibezim presided over and enlightened them on how to make their ministry strong.
In his sermon, Most Reverend Ibezim who is also the Bishop, Awka Diocese, said that the season is a time for abstinence and self-denial in other to seek God’s face which will help them to focus on their lives and ministries, charging all not to fast to draw attention rather to do it secretly as instructed by God.
The Bishop, Methodist Church of Nigeria, Diocese of Awka, Right Reverend Onyekachi Nwakanma in his sermon maintained that the service as the beginning of Lenten season, helps them to prepare and be dedicated for sober reflection noting that ash signifies brokenness, sorrow, repentance and penitence.
Most Reverend Nwakanma further noted that every Christian should know that administration of ash is a physical sign that shows how the spiritual man should look like, asking all to pray for forgiveness, pray for the nation, even as he said they should not make it just a religious observation but also render help as expected of true Christians.
At the Divine Mercy Chaplaincy, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku Awka, the Chaplain, Reverend Father Micheal-Kins Okpala said each year Christians embrace this season which reminds them that they are dust and unto dust they shall return, urging christians to be prepared, humble, be at peace with one another, and ensure they live accordingly to the precepts of Christ.
He lamented that many fast and pray only in this Lenten season while some wallow in sin, even while fasting, urging them to reconcile with one another, while explaining that as Ash Wednesday coincided with Valentine Day, they uphold the virtues Christians are known for , engage in activities for the season as well build strong faith that will remain in their lives.
placement of ash on the forehead of the parishioners featured at the mass and services as well as celebration of the Eucharistic.
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