From Monday and Tuesday masquerade to Ash Wednesday mas. A nationwide scene of faith and tradition was visible yesterday as eager churchgoers flocked the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Port-of-Spain during their lunch time break. Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and penance which ushers in a new journey toward the Easter resurrection, the journey of Lent.
The liturgical sign of ashes has become a sacred symbol and Monsignor Urban Peschier demonstrated this as he pasted a cross in ashes on the forehead of men and women who packed the pews of the cathedral. Peschier said the importance of the service was to encourage people to turn away from sin and turn to God. He said Christians were expected to think not only of themselves but of others who were straying from the right path.
"We should be ambassadors for Christ," proclaimed Peschier. He urged churchgoers to be genuine in their prayers and acts of faith. He said that Lent is a time to practise prayer, fast and help those most in need of God's mercy. "The use of ashes on this day signifies the reality of death because of the original sin of our first parents Adam and Eve," said Peschier.