Catholics pray for peace, end of COVID-19 on Ash Wednesday

As Christians marked the beginning of lent all over the world yesterday, Catholic adherents in Cross River State prayed for peace and an end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some Catholics faithfuls, who spoke with The Guardian after taking the ash on their foreheads at the Saint Patrick’s Parish in Federal Housing Estate, Calabar Municipal Council, said Ash Wednesday was a time for Christians to seek God’s intervention in restoring peace to humanity.

In his sermon, the Officiating Priest and Principal of Saint Patrick’s College, Reverend Father Christopher Okon, said Lent signified the beginning of 40 days fasting and prayer with sober reflection and to remind mankind that man came from dust and would return to dust.

He called on Christians to be charitable and avoid sin during the period and beyond.

A member of the church, John Emawore, said lent was a period of repentance given arms to the poor.

On her part, Mrs. Hilder Anderson, said Christians should pray for God’s mercy on the world because of the kind of things happening these days, especially the COVID-19 pandemic which has brought the world to its knees.

“This period reminds us of the sufferings of Jesus Christ on the Cross and it is an opportunity for us to seek the face of God to end the deadly disease.

“As we speak, you don’t even know who you are talking to because we all wear face masks. This is not the kind of life God wants for us, so we need Him to intervene through prayers and seeking his forgiveness.”