Fasting, Prayer and Almsgiving

Report by Soccom

Sandakan : On 6th March 2019, Ash Wednesday was celebrated simultaneously at St Mary’s Cathedral in English, St Joseph’s Church in Chinese and St Mark’s Church in Bahasa Malaysia. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten Season.

Rt. Rev. Julius Dusin Gitom, the Bishop of Sandakan presided over the Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral. More than two thousand faithful attended the Eucharistic celebration.

In his homily, Bishop Julius mentioned that, over a billion Catholic faithful across the world flock to the Church for Ash Wednesday, a time of grace for all of us. The prelate reminded parishioners that the season of Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and penance.  Catholics try to imitate Jesus’ withdrawal to the wilderness for 40 days in prayer and fasting also contemplating his suffering, death and resurrection.

The ashes being marked on our forehead symbolizes penance and contrition and is a reminder that God is merciful and gracious. As sinners, we ask the Lord to cleanse our hearts and renew the right spirit within us.

The season of Lent is also a time to prepare candidates for baptism through intensive instruction. The prelate called on all parishioners to lend support to the candidates in their journey of faith especially in preparation of their baptism during Easter.

The prelate touched on the three pillars of Lent that is prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Prayer is our personal relationship with God, our union with Him. It unites us with Jesus and all others in the church, His body. Fasting leads to self-control and make us realise the suffering of others. Alms giving is the response by us to God. It is an expression of gratitude for all that God has given us. It is the attitude of hearts, being humble, merciful, repentant and compassionate leading us to works of charity and the promotion of justice, an integral element of Christian life.

In conclusion, Bishop Julius quoted Pope Francis’ Lenten message for 2019.

“Let us not allow this season of grace to pass in vain. Let us ask God to help us set out on the path of true conversion. Let us leave behind our selfishness and self-absorption, and turn to Jesus’ Pasch. Let us stand beside our brothers and sisters in need, sharing our spiritual and material goods with them. In this way, by concretely welcoming Christ’s victory over sin and death into our lives, we will also radiate its transforming power to all of creation.”

At the same time, over a thousand faithful attended Eucharistic celebration at St. Mark's Church presided over by Rev. Fr. Christopher Ireneus.