The residents of Kiambu County marked the start of lent with solemn Ash Wednesday celebrations, attending church services and receiving ashes as a reminder of their mortality.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of lent, a period of forty days where Christians around the world engage in introspection, prayer, fasting and acts of charity.
Catholics all over the world are using this season as a time for reflection on their life and a time to seek forgiveness of sin in preparation for the celebration of Easter Sunday, which comes at the end of the lent session commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Last week the Catholic Bishops in the East African nation met to mark a 40-day journey of reflection with the church in Kenya naming “The Kenya we desire.” Thus Christians were reminded to journey together, bear one another’s burdens and be instruments that ignite transformation in the society.
“As we reflect on ‘the Kenya we desire,’ we are called to consider not only what we want for ourselves but also what we want for others. We are called to desire the good of all people, regardless of their background or status,” said the statement signed by Bishop Simon Peter Kamomoe, Chairman for the Catholic Justice and Peace Department (CJPD) at the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB).
He added that in the context of Kenya’s challenges, including political stability, economic hardship or social injustice, he urged all Kenyans to desire what is good for the country, pray for healing and unity, and commit ourselves to actions that reflect these desires.
Kiambu County members of the Catholic Church attended mass celebrations to mark the season, including Our Lady of Consolata in Kahawa Farmers, where the Parish Priest, Father Lawrence Kamere, emphasized the significance of this Lenten season in the Catholic calendar.
Kamere stated that Lent presents a unique opportunity for Christians to introspectively examine their lives and seek reconciliation with God.
Kamere cited the history of the lent season, linking it to the early churches, saying ashes were used as a sign of grief, mourning, and penance. However, today, the practice of receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday has evolved to symbolize repentance and a reminder of our mortality.
“The ashes remind us that we are dust, and to dust we shall return,” said Kamere
He also emphasized the importance of thanksgiving during Lent, encouraging Christians to give and share with their friends, family and more so with the needy in society.
Kamere stressed the importance of repentance and forgiveness, urging Christians to reconcile with others and perform acts of kindness, visiting the sick in hospitals, visiting those in prisons and also cancelling unpaid debts.
“Let us all ensure we pray for ourselves, our families, and our leaders in churches and in society, and pray for peace and justice in our country,” stated Kamere
Natasha Lelenguya, a member of Our Lady Consolata Church, shared her thoughts on the Lenten season, saying that she hopes that these seasons may bring hope and relief for those who are going through tough economic times.
“I urge my fellow Christians to be mindful of others by sharing the little we have with those who don’t, lending a helping hand to a neighbor in need and one by one, let’s make these worlds a better place for all of us,” said Lelenguya.
Lent season is marked by Christian denominations here, including the Roman Catholic Church, Lutheran Church, Methodist Church, and Anglican Church.
By Magdaline Thuku
