Ash Wednesday:Catholic faithful mark beginning of Lent in Archdiocese of Onitsha

By Ononye VC
Catholic faithful in Archdiocese of Onitsha,joined others worldwide to mark the the beginning of Lent with Ash Wednesday on February 14,2024.
It is a 40 day Lent period with the symbolic Ash Wednesday ahead of the Easter season.
At the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity,Onitsha,the Metropolitan Archbishop,Most Rev Valerian Okeke,represented by the Chancellor of the Archdiocese,Very Rev Fr Prudentius Emeka Aroh,presided over one of the masses celebrated at 6:15 am where many faithful,young and aged received a mark of the ash on their foreheads as a sign of repentance and a reminder that all faithful come from ash and will someday return to ash.
In his opening remarks,the Archbishop through Fr Emeka Aroh,reminded the faithful that the next forty days from Ash Wednesday would be time of intense prayers, abstinence,fasting and almsgiving.
Delivering his sermon,the Archbishop’s Secretary,Very Rev Fr Emmanuel Onunkwo said that with
Ash Wednesday, the Church began a faith journey towards the Resurrection of Christ on Easter day.According to him, the Church prepares and invites her children towards embracing the salvation story.
“The season of Lent is special for us all. We are called to a life of total renewal. A season of the “re”s : renewal, rebirth, rejuvenate, redemption, repentance, recollection, return,reflection, rejection (sin) etc”.
Fr Onunkwo elaborated that the summary of the Lenten ritual/season is in the words used during the marking of the ashes on the forehead as the priest says, “Dust you are and dust you shall return” or “Repent from your sins and believe in the Gospel”.
He urged the faithful to demonstrate love for one another,make sacrifices and share with the less privileged for the Lenten period to achieve it’s real significance.
Other Archdiocesan priests which included the Rector of the Basilica,Monsignor Francis Ezumezu participated in the mass.
They are,the Vice Chancellor of the Archdiocese,Very Rev Fr Basil Ekwunife,the Deputy Secretary to the Archbishop,Rev Fr Kingsley Omenyi,the Financial Administrator Very Rev Fr Philip Ibeneme,the Archdiocesan Accountant,Very Rev Fr Remigius Ikeche,fr Emmanuel Ojukwu and fr Emmanuel Nwabufo.