Ash Wednesday Catholics worldwide mark beginning of Lenten season

“In Catholic Churches all over the world, the faithful are expected to receive ash on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday as a sign of repentance.

Catholics all over the world would on Wednesday mark the 2016Ash Wednesday, signalling the beginning of the 40-day season of Lent.

Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Msgr. Gabriel Osu made this official announcement in a statement

 Osu said,“In Catholic Churches all over the world, the faithful are expected to receive ash on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday as a sign of repentance.

“During the Lenten season, Christians are encouraged to intensify prayers, observe abstinence, fasting and alms giving.

“They are expected to draw nearer God through constant prayers, forsaking their sins and being at peace with fellow men.

“It is also serves as a reminder that we all came from ash and would someday return to ash.

“Here in the Archdiocese of Lagos, the faithful would be led into the Lenten season by the Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace, Adewale Martins at the Holy Cross Cathedral’’, Osu said in the statement.

The director of communications said the Lenten observance should not just end during the season, but “continue for the fruit to germinate and bear more fruits in our daily lives.’’

Osu enjoined all Nigerians to also use the period to pray for lasting peace and development in Nigeria.