By Sue-Ann Wayow
OPPOSITION Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is wishing the Christian community a prayerful, blessed, spiritually enriching and peaceful Lenten period.
The Lenten season begins today (Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2023) and will continue for a 40-day period.
Persad-Bissessar in a statement issued said, “This Ash Wednesday, as many receive ashes, a symbol of mortality and repentance, it is a reminder that above all our achievements, beyond all our earthly possessions, beyond all our ambitions, we are nothing but dust without the love, forgiveness, and mercy of God.
“I pray that this Lenten season enlightens, inspires, and motivates all our Christian brothers and sisters who embark on this period of sacrifice, prayer as well as fasting.”
Persad-Bissessar said that Lent was a season that offered the country great values as it created the opportunity for citizens to separate themselves on the activities focused on their own desires for the actions that aligned them more with God’s will for humanity.
“Lent is a season that teaches us as a nation the opportunity to be less about ourselves and more about each other through its core pillars of prayer, fasting, and giving,” she said.
Quoting Pope Francis’ Lent 2023 message in which he encouraged believers to listen to those especially in need, Persad-Bissessar also encouraged citizens to help those who were less fortunate not only economically but who those were burdened mentally due to being alone or isolated from society.
“Let us use this Lent as a nation to create a space, place, plan, and purpose where all are welcome. May God bless our Christian community as they prepare for Easter through reverence in this Lenten season,” she said.
Member of Parliament for Couva South Rudranath Indarsingh also issued greetings.
He said Ash Wednesday was symbolic of the very manner in which human beings were created – through dust.
“As we commemorate Ash Wednesday and step closer towards the Easter season, may we remember the principles of sacrifice, restraint, focus and dedication towards making things better,” Indarsingh said.
