Ash Wednesday; Lenten Season Officially Begins

Bishop Philip Wright

The Lenten season officially began today with Ash Wednesday and many Belizeans could be seen with crosses on their foreheads. The next forty days are to commemorate the wilderness experience of Jesus Christ following his baptism in the River Jordan. It is about overcoming challenges, sacrifices and struggles as well as identifying opportunities, successes and rewards. During his reflection on the Lenten season being a time to prepare for something better, Bishop Philip Wright spoke about the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine.

Bishop Philip Wright, Anglican Diocese of Belize

“What an interesting Lent this is shaping up to be. As we are trying to climb out of a global pandemic, we are being drawn into a global conflict. Natural evil and human evil appear to have conspired for our collective demise, coupled with the sense that there is not much that we can do about it.  The helplessness and hopelessness under these circumstances have become a burden far too great to bear. What is true globally, resonates locally as well. As a nation and a people, we too continue to sojourn through what can be described as interested and unprecedented times. Closer to home, as a diocese, we are preparing to embrace new ways of being the church in response to what we see as the new missionary imperatives we face today. Hence the theme for our Lenten season carries from our last diocesan synod – transformation and renewal our Lenten journey.”