Lent: Priest Urges Reconciliation To Foster Peace

The moderator, Satellite Deanery Catholic Lenten Retreat, Rev. Fr. Anthony Okereke, yesterday said the habitual practice of reconciliation among people would help end acrimony and bad blood in the society and foster peace in the world.

Okereke, speaking at the retreat held at the Holy Spirit Church Onirike, Ojo, Lagos State, described the act of reconciliation as one of the pillars on which the Lenten season hinged.

The retreat, aimed at making people conform to the Lenten teachings, was attended by delegates from parishes of the deanery.

He urged individuals, communities and nations that had estranged relationship with others to avail themselves the Lenten grace period to make amendments to bring peace.

Okereke stressed that reconciliation as personified by Christ’s death remained a recipe for peace in humanity.

“This is the best time to reconcile with those we have hurt, those we are not in talking terms and seek forgiveness.

“Restore our relationship with God and one another and not war as is ongoing in the Middle-East.

“This is God’s given time to be spiritually enriched with the word of God; explore the scriptures, facilitate reconciliations with estranged fellows and foster peace.

“Empathy is another tenet of the lent. Feel empathy for the poor and neglected and do something about it,” he said.(NAN)