Catholics and Anglicans observe Ash Wednesday, begin Lent season

Catholics and Anglicans across Fiji gathered yesterday to observe Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent, a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving leading up to Easter.

In churches and chapels around the country, worshippers received ashes on their foreheads, a solemn sign of repentance and human mortality.

This ancient Christian tradition reminds believers of the call to turn away from sin and renew their lives in Jesus Christ.

Salome Maria, Maria Cakau, and Paulo Tuibau after Ash Wednesday mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Suva on February 18, 2026.

Photo: Ronald Kumar

At the Fiji Corrections Service Chapel in Korovou, Father Edward Vakatora encouraged the faithful to approach Lent as more than a ritual observance.

“Ashes remind us that one day we will return to dust, but more importantly they call us to repentance, a real change of heart,” he said.

“Repentance is not simply asking for forgiveness. It is transforming the way we live, love, and treat others.”

Father Vakatora reflected on the three pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Prayer, he said, extends beyond spoken words and includes attending Mass, reading scripture, praying the rosary, and spending quiet time in God’s presence. “Sometimes prayer is simply saying, ‘Lord, I am here.’”

Fasting, traditionally observed by abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, is also a call to self-discipline in daily life.

Catholics are encouraged to refrain from harmful speech, negative attitudes, and actions that damage relationships. “True fasting is choosing what builds others up,” he said.

Almsgiving, the third pillar, focuses on generosity and compassion — visiting the sick, assisting the poor, and showing kindness within families and communities.

“There are many who are lonely and in need of care. Charity begins with how we treat one another each day,” Father Vakatora said.

He said growing participation from Christians of other denominations, reflecting a shared desire for reflection and spiritual renewal.