The parishioners of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Wuse, Abuja, led by the Parish Priest, Very Rev. Fr. Kale Francis, marked the 2026 Ash Wednesday, marking the commencement of Lenten Season, in solemnity and reverence to God.
Fr. Kale, who led the Holy Mass to Herald the 40 days’ Lenten period, reminded Catholics and Christians of the reasons for the period in Church’s calendar.
Fr. Kale, during the Homily, reminded parishioners of the key principles of the season: prayer, fasting and almsgiving, stressing that people should not just pay lip service to the Biblical injunctions, but should reverently follow the teachings of Christ, both during the Lenten periods and after.
He noted the urgent need for Nigerians to assist the poor through almsgiving, but more importantly, by shunning corrupt tendencies currently engulfing the Nigerian polity.
He reminded Nigerians to eschew evil thoughts, practice piety, and follow the path that will bring peace across the country.
He gave examples of Jesus, who came to the world to die for the sake of humanity, stressing that we should try and emulate his virtues of humility and service.
The climax of the occasion was applying blessed ashes on the foreheads of the worshipers, who came in large numbers to pay their reverence as required by the Catholic Chur