The Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha has dedicated the 40-day prayer and fasting of the Lenten period to supplication for peace and security in the Southeast.
Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, Archbishop of Onitsha and Metropolitan Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province said this in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday.
The Statement was entitled “A Call For Prayers From The Catholic Bishops Of Onitsha Ecclesistical Province To The Priests, Religious, Lay Faithful and All People Of Goodwill”
The Archbishop said the Southeast had become a theater of ungodly and wanton destruction of life and property, noting that the ugly developments had not been part of people of the area.
He listed three prayer points which included return of security and peace in the Southeast, that God may cause a change of heart of those behind the murderers and for justice and equity in Nigeria.
“It is against this prevalent despondency, that we, the Archbishop and Bishops of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province send you this message of hope and call for prayers especially this holy season of lent.
“In the midst of these tragedies, many people are tempted to lose faith in God and hope in man.
“We therefore invite our beloved Christian faithful and all men and women of goodwill to use this holy season of Lent to pray for the following major intentions:
“For Security and Peace in the South-East of Nigeria, that God may cause a change of heart in the murderers and make them realise the sacredness of human life and justice and equity will reign in Nigeria,” he said.
The Bishops in the Archdiocese prayed to God to give the Federal Government and Southeast political leaders the courage and honesty to discuss the challenges facing the Southeast region.
According to the Bishops, prayers for peace and security are now declared in all the dioceses of our Province to begin on Ash Wednesday, March 2.
“The prayers will last for 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Palm Sunday, April 10.
“There will be fasting for everybody on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays in the season of Lent.
“We suggest that people should not eat before noon on such days of March 2, 4, 11, 18, 25, as well as April 15 and April 8 respectively.
“Bishops, priests, religious men and women, should in addition to the above general fasting days, fast on all Tuesdays throughout the period of Lent including the Holy Week.
“We appeal to all to say their rosaries daily and faithfully within this period of lent for this cloud of blood-letting hanging over our region will collapse like the walls of Jericho,” he said.
Archbishop Okeke said they were confident that the good Lord will bless and accept spiritual exercise while wishing all a prayerful and fruitful season of Lent 2022. (NAN)
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