Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, top Government officials, traditional rulers, and Government House workers ,Wednesday, joined other Christians in the country to celebrate the Ash Wednesday Holy Mass in commencement of the Lenten season.
In his homily at the Holy Mass held at the Government House Chapel, Enugu, the officiating Priest and Chaplain,Government House Chapel, Rev Fr Dr. Anthony Udeh described Lent as a season of sacrifice, prayer, fasting, forgiveness, and almsgiving.
He urged Christians to fast, pray, and extend love to their neighbours, as well as give alms to the needy during the leten season . Fr Udeh also said that fasting is a spiritual exercise, which should not be publicized .
According to him, when someone fasts ,he or she should not let people know he /she was fasting, likewise, when giving alms, it should be done in secret so that God will reward the giver.
The Priest also noted that “the Lenten period offers Christians the opportunity to purify and renew their spiritual life as well as to connect with God”.
In an interview , Enugu state Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah called on the people of the state, Christian faithful, and Nigerians in general to see the 2025 Lenten season as a time for forgiveness, penitence, charity, empathy, and sacrifice.
Pix: Gov Mbah ( front)
He said, “For us as Christians, this is a journey of 40 days that has just started today. This year’s Lenten season is of a particular resonance because, as you know, it also coincides with the Ramadan, and the Ramadan is also a fasting period for our Muslim brothers. So, it is indeed a call to peace and unity for our country.
“For Christians, Lent is a period that we have to forgive and love one another. It is also a period for us to sacrifice, be empathetic, moderate, and above all, give to charity.
“Again, as you already may have heard the homily or message today, this is a season for prayers, fasting and a season for almsgiving.
“So, I call on our people, Ndi Enugu, and the country at large to not only imbibe these values of sacrifice, moderation, empathy and almsgiving, but also to carry on with it beyond the season.
As done in the tradition of the church, Ashes were blessed and applied on the fore heads of the faithful, reminding them that human beings were created out of dust and they shall return to dust.
First reading, which was taken from the book of Joel 2:: 12-18, was read by the Speaker ,Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Ugwu, while the second reading taken from, 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2 ,was read by the Chief Judge of Customary Court, Hon. Justice Augustine Nnamani.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama