A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Constantine Okoli, has called on Christians to embrace the Lenten season as a time for spiritual growth and deeper connection with God.
Okoli made the appeal on Wednesday at the Chapel of the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Okpuno, Awka, during Ash Wednesday activities that marked the start of the 40-day Lenten period.
He explained that Lent is a sacred season set aside for fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, providing believers with the opportunity to reflect on their relationship with God and live in accordance with His commandments.
Describing the season as a time of grace, Okoli highlighted its role in promoting repentance, spiritual renewal, and resistance to temptation.
“The Lenten season begins with Ash Wednesday, a reminder for Christians to focus on prayer, fasting, and acts of charity,” he said.
He encouraged the faithful to use the period to repent of sins, reconcile with God, forgive others, and extend kindness, fostering peace and spiritual fulfilment within society.
Okoli noted that the application of ashes on the foreheads of worshippers serves as a symbolic reminder of human mortality and the need for repentance.
He urged Christians to approach Lent with sincerity and commitment, seeing it as a pathway to renewed faith and personal spiritual development.