Religion

 Ash Wednesday: Cleric Calls for Fervent Prayer

By Web News 229

By Lanre Omotoso

Ash Wednesday is a day that marks the beginning of forty days of fasting and prayer among various Christian denominations such as Catholic, Anglican, Baptist and Methodist.

To mark the day, worshippers converge on their various churches for a brief service where they put ash on their foreheads.

In an interview with Vicar of Saint James Anglican Church, Aramoko-Ekiti, Venerable Rufus Ajidahun said the ash placed on the forehead of the faithful symbolized humility.

Venerable Ajidahun stressed that the ash was a reminder that every mortal must go back to dust where God created them from.

The Vicar enjoined Christians to use the Lenten period to engage in almsgiving as well as fervent prayers for themselves and the nation.

He advised Christians to use Lent to showcase Jesus Christ to unbelievers through love, and forsake their sinful ways.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels and also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Religion

Ash Wednesday: Uphold love in all you do – Reverend Father Fashola

By Web News 424

By Francisca Irekpita

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate Ash Wednesday, Christians have been urged to uphold love in their dealings with others irrespective of religious, social and tribal affiliations.

The Reverend Father Anthony Fashola of the Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta made the call in an interview with Radio Nigeria in Abeokuta.

The Reverend Father Fashola who noted that the day marks the beginning of forty days of Lenten observance, said the season was a reminder of the Lord’s passion and love for mankind.

He therefore encouraged the faithful to intensify in prayers for the country to overcome its current challenges.

The cleric further admonished Christians to renew and rededicate themselves to the service of God and humanity.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels and also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Religion

Ash Wednesday: Christians Urged to Retrace Their Steps To God

By Web News 327

By Lanre Omotoso

Today is Ash Wednesday, it is observed in Christendom across the globe to mark the beginning of the annual forty-day Lenten season.

The Lent which is mandatory for all Christian faithful as demonstrated by Jesus Christ, will lead to Easter celebration.

To commemorate the day, some denominations, such as Catholic and Anglican Churches organise service during which the foreheads of the congregations will be marked with ashes.

Speaking on the significance of Ash Wednesday, the administrator-in-charge of St. Louis Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Old Garage, Ado-Ekiti, Reverend Father Benedict Joseph said it affords Christians to retrace their steps back to God.

Also, the Archbishop, Methodist Church Nigeria, Ifaki Archdiocese, Most Reverend Sunday Ogunlere emphasized that the Lenten season prepares Christians for the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

On his part, the founder of Holy Trinity Authority Prophetic Church, Ikere Road, Ado-Ekiti, Prophet James Omitade, noted that the lessons of the season should be put into practice beyond the period.

Venerable Simeon Olajobi of Emmanuel Anglican Cathedral, Okesa Ado-Ekiti, was of the opinion that Nigerian leaders should use the period to reflect on the leadership styles of Jesus Christ who came to serve humanity.

Similarly, Reverend Joshua Alonge of St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Oke-Oro-Ekiti, Ijero Local Government enjoined political leaders to pray for the right direction to surmount insecurity, kidnapping, banditry and hunger in the country.

The clergymen stressed the need for Christians to move closer to God because they would give accounts of their deeds on earth before their Creator.

They also called on Christians to use the Lenten period to pray, amend their ways, read the Bible and engage in almsgiving to enjoy the uninterrupted blessings of God.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels and also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Religion

Ash Wednesday: Sanda, Badejo Call for Sober Reflection, Prayers

By Web News 626

By Morenikan Tony-Esan, Kayode Oguntona

The Vicar, Saint Anne’s Church, Molete Ibadan, The Venerable Adewale Sanda

Ash Wednesday is a solemn reminder of human mortality and the need for reconciliation with God and marks the beginning of the Lenten season.

The Vicar, Saint Anne’s Church, Molete Ibadan, The Venerable Adewale Sanda stated this in a chat with Radio Nigeria Ibadan.

The Venerable Sanda said that the significance of the day is to experience part of the sufferings Jesus Christ went through before he finally died for the sins of humanity.

The clergy explained that the ash sprinkled on the foreheads of believers is to remind Christians that they came from the dust and unto dust, they would return.

The Vicar, therefore, admonished Christians to use the 40 days fasting period to be repentant of their sins and be closer to God through prayers.

He, however, appealed to Nigerians to shun violence before, during and after the General election.

Similarly, the Bishop, the Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo has charged Nigerians to shun thuggery, buying and selling of votes including other acts of criminality during the elections.

Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo gave the advice while speaking with Radio Nigeria on the significance of Ash Wednesday and Lent.

Describing ashes received on Wednesday and Lent as a season to knock on Heaven’s door for divine intervention in the affairs of our nation, Bishop Badejo emphasized the mobilization of human, material and spiritual resources to attract God’s mercy for a successful election.

The Cleric who also called Nigerians to repentance, humility and love said the three pillars of lent which are prayer, fasting and almsgiving must go together to secure heaven’s attention.

Bishop Badejo maintained that since God is supreme over the affairs of any nation, Nigeria will be healed, peaceful and become great again if people could humble themselves, pray and depart from their evil ways.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, occurring six and a half weeks before Easter.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Religion

Ash Wednesday is a time for repentance, sober reflection – Rev. Fr. Ogwuegbu

By Web News 571

Ash Wednesday is a very important day in the life of a Christian.

The Very Reverend Father Benedict Ogwuegbu of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, Oke Padre, Ibadan, stated this during an interview to mark Ash Wednesday.

The Very Reverend Father Benedict Ogwuegbu of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, Oke Padre, Ibadan during the 2022 Ash Wednesday Mass

The Very Reverend Father Ogwuegbu said the mark of the cross usually placed on the forehead with ash symbolises Jesus’ death and repentance for past sins which Christians must not take for granted.

Congregants getting marked with ashes on their foreheads to mark the Ash Wednesday

Members of the congregation who were in a sober mood said they will never forget the death of Jesus which marked a turning point in their lives as Christians.

Each year, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and is always 46 days before Easter Sunday. 

Lilian Ibomor

Religion

Ash Wednesday: Cleric Urges Faithful to Pray for Nigeria

By Web News 693

Christians have been reminded of the need to use the Lenten season to renew their relationship with God and pray for His divine intervention in the affairs of the country.

The very reverend father Lawrence Avro of Saint Anne’s Catholic Church Ibara Abeokuta, gave the advice while speaking with radio Nigeria on the commemoration of this year’s Ash Wednesday.

The very Reverend father Avro who explained that Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the forty day Lenten season of the death and resurrection of Christ, urged Christians to engage in prayers, fasting and arms giving.

 The Cleric noted that the reflection on the sufferings and death of Christ in a way put Christians in the mood for sorrow and repentance from sins.

He admonished the faithful to deny themselves of bodily pleasures in order to be free from every form of worldly distractions

Francisca Irekpita

Religion

Ash Wednesday: Cleric Calls For Humility

By Web News 689

Orthodox churches in Ibadan Metropolis today held early morning services to mark the Ash Wednesday.

In some of the churches visited including St. James the Great Cathedral, Oke Bola and St. Mary Catholic Church Oke Padre, worshippers appeared in sober mood and sang hymns to reflect on the essence of ash Wednesday which herald the Lenten period.

In his homily, Arch Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Ibadan, Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin, charged Christians to be humble and seek the face of god during the forty days spiritual exercise.

Most Rev. Abegunrin also admonished Christians to pray for divine solution to myraids of challenges confronting the nation especially end to covid-19 and insecurity.

On his part, Provost, St. James the great cathedral, Oke-Bola, the very Rev. Olasode Olagbaju, enjoined Nigerians to coexist peacefully.

The customary marking of the cross sign with ashes on the forehead however took a new dimension in some cathedral as priests sprinkled dry ashes on worshippers to practise Covid-19 protocols.

Funmilola Obagbayegun

Religion

Significance Of Lenten Season

By Web News 891

Lent, in Christendom begins with Ash Wednesday.

The Lenten season is usually for a period of six and a half weeks before Easter, and provides for a 40-day fast in which Sundays are excluded

It is a solemn religious observance in the Christian calendar which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends the night before Easter Sunday. 

Sundays are excluded from days of fasting in the Lenten season.

On Ash Wednesday, priests gather ashes from the previous Palm Sunday and rub them on congregants’ foreheads.

It is a time of preparation and focus, as well as reminiscent of Jesus Christ’s time in the wilderness.

The purpose of lent is the preparation of the believer for Easter through prayers, repentance of sins, almsgiving, and self-denial. 

Some churches that observe the forty days fasting are catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, and  some Pentecostal churches few churches equally observe the last 7 days of the Lenten season. 

The last week of lent is holy week, starting with Palm Sunday. 

In Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, radio Nigeria microphone caught up with some residents who spoke on the Lenten season

Speaking on the Lenten season, the pastor in charge of first Baptist church, Odo Ona Elewe, Ibadan, the reverend Samson Ayorinde, pointed out that Christians should use the season to ask for mercy for the world

The reverend Ayorinde equally advised Christians not to go back to their sinful acts after the Lenten period

The Lenten period will end on the third of April, 2021

Olaolu Fawole

News Religion

Clerics Explain Significance of Ash Wednesday

By Web News 855

Ash Wednesday signifies the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a sign of mourning and repentance.                          

The ashes used are typically gathered from the burnt leaves of the previous year’s Palm Sunday.                                    

Christian clerics in Osun State told Radio Nigeria that Christians should make peace, helping the needy and draw closer to God during the Lenten period.  

Her report.

Zion Oyelade