The Catholic Church in Uganda has returned to the old ritual of putting ashes on the foreheads of the faithful to mark Ash Wednesday.
The ritual had been suspended for the last two years due to COVID-19 induced restrictions which limited contact between the ministers of the faithful.
In normal times, Catholics are marked by putting ashes on the foreheads of the faithful to mark the beginning of the lent period. However, the ritual was observed differently in the past two years.
In 2020, the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments had asked priests to take special anti-COVID-19 precautions while distributing ashes on Ash Wednesday thus directing priests to sprinkle ashes with holy water on the head of each one rather than the traditional marking of foreheads.
As a norm, thousands of Christians on Wednesday turned up in different churches to mark the start of the lent period. In Kampala many churches, the Mass started at 6;00 a.m. to cater for school-going children and workers.
At Lubaga Cathedral Rev Fr Alex Kagambira, the Lubaga Youth Chaplain reminded the faithful that Lent is a special time to remember Christ’s sacrifice by fasting or giving up luxuries as a means of reflection and repentance.
Rev Fr Kagambira also called the faithful to do charity for those in need. He however advised them to desist from showing off their acts of mercy by remembering that they intend to please God and not any humans.
At Christ the King Church in Kampala, mass was led by Msgr Gerald Kalumba, the Vicar General Kampala Archdiocese. Kalumba told Christians that Ash Wednesday should help them understand that they have started the journey to the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection and triumph.
Msgr Kalumba, who is also the Christ the King Parish Priest, says during the entire season, everyone should reflect on their daily acts and focus on the three pillars of Fasting, prayers, and almsgiving.
Msgr Kalumba, also encouraged Christians not to waste time on issues that do not bring them closer to their God. He notes that this time should not be used for Sanctity and holiness.
At Kamwokya Holy Trinity Church Rev. Fr. Godfrey Kato Semwogerere, the Parish Priest, told Christians to embrace and respect the forty days of the Lenten season as a blessing to enrich their spiritual life.
He said that the outer sign of smearing the Ash should see Christians reflecting on their inner strength that can be achieved by prayers, fasting, and giving back.
The use of ash on such a day is symbolic in the catholic church. Records indicate that the ritual for the “Day of Ashes” is found in the earliest editions of the Gregorian Sacramentary which dates at least to the 8th century.
Ash is used to expressing mourning, mortality, and penance. It is also a symbol of outward expression of the need to begin again.
In Uganda, the ash which is distributed to the faithful on Ash Wednesday is normally obtained by burning the palm branches which were used on the palm Sunday of the previous year.
