Christians start Lent period next Wednesday

Christians will next Wednesday mark the beginning of the lent period. A time of prayer and fasting in the life of a Christian.

Believers are expected to fast during the 40 day-long season.

Lent, according to Fr. Joseph Mukasa Muwonge, the public relations official of Kampala Archdiocese, is a period of self-examination, repentance, helping the needy and doing good deeds.

He said, Ash Wednesday marks the first day of the liturgical period of Lent, a time of prayer and fasting in the life of the church.

He added that Ash Wednesday received its name from the tradition of spreading ashes on a person's forehead as a biblical sign of mourning and repentance to God.

"Lent offers us all a very special opportunity to grow in our relationship with God and to deepen our commitment to a way of life, rooted in our baptism," he said.

Adding that Lent provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon our patterns, to pray more, experience sorrow for what we have done and failed to do, and to be generous to those in need.