ASH WEDNESDAY: Christians are mourning over killings in Nigeria -Rev. Fr. Chukwuedo

By Unue Emeka,

The Catholic Priest of the Church of the Ascension, Asaba Delta State, Rev. Fr. Donatus Chukwuedo has called on Christians to be prayerful during the Lenten period, noting that Christians in Nigeria are mourning following the incessant killings, kidnapping and other violence that has enveloped the country.

Fr. Chukwuedo who stated this during the service to mark Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lenten period, observed that it was sad that the killings, shedding of innocent blood were going on unabated and those in authority were doing much to keep it in check.

He explained that Catholics were asked to wear black attires because they were mourning endless killings in the country, saying the Christians should be united in prayers noting with a united church, the issue of persecution of the Church would be a thing of the past.

Fr. Chukwuedo stated further that the security situation in the country is not beyond God, assuring Christians that God would intervene in the affairs of the country.

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According to him, “we begin the Lenten season with fasting, prayers, and almsgiving and above all is feeling remorseful for our sins and repenting from it.

“The ashes should be a reminder of our nothingness before God, acknowledging our frailty, looking up to God for His intervention.

“We are crying, we are mourning, we are sick of the killings going on in our country and putting on black clothes on a significant day as this is our own way of calling on God to save us and we are mourning with the families of those who lost dear ones.

“These are killers deriving joy in spilling human blood; Christianity is under threat; Christians should be united to fight the common enemy, we should stop fighting ourselves.

“As Catholics, we should practice Catholicism by our actions, showing love to all.

“Catholic is the mother church and every other Christian are free to attend the activities of the Catholic Church; Pentecostals are free to attend the Stations of the Cross because, if Christians should stand up and speak with one voice, these killings will stop.

“No religion should be preaching and celebrating violence, killings and promising rewards for those who kill the innocents.

“If members of Boko Haram do not repent, God will send them to the pit of hell, they should repent and those who say that they are our leaders should make practical efforts to stop the killing, terrorism; no one should derive joy in the suffering of others.

“We ask God to heal us, we ask God to save us through Christ our Lord. Amen.”