Maula Cathedral Parishioners Urged to Embrace Penance and Forgiveness During Lenten Recollection
- Communications
- Feb 21
- 2 min read
Parishioners at Maula Cathedral have been challenged to become people of profound repentance and forgiveness as they journey through the Lenten season.
The call has been made by Father Precious Damiano Chitha during a Lenten Recollection held on Saturday, 21 February 2026, themed around the scriptural encouragement, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live," focused on the spiritual necessity of the Sacrament of Penance and the healing power of mercy.
In his address, Father Chitha emphasized that true conversion of the heart begins with "holy sorrow." He noted that while many Christians know the right thing to do, the struggle lies in putting that knowledge into practice.
"Christ calls us to be people who love to repent of our sins and love to forgive others in the places we find ourselves—whether at work or in our businesses," Father Damiano stated.
He reminded the faithful that feeling genuine sorrow for one’s shortcomings is the essential first step toward spiritual renewal.
To navigate this season effectively, parishioners have been encouraged to follow three pillars:
Deepening Prayer: Moving beyond routine to a genuine connection with God.
Works of Mercy: Recognizing that God’s mercy is a mirror meant to humble us and should be extended to others through presence and compassion.
Self-Discipline: Confronting habits of sin by identifying the "where, why, and how" of temptations and having the courage to remove them.
The recollection offered a deep dive into the nature of Confession, described not as a "stage for performance," but as a sacred space for honesty.
Father Chitha urged the congregants to approach the sacrament with bare hearts, naming sins directly rather than hiding behind polished words or pride.
"Forgive not because they deserve it, but because your heart deserves peace," the message highlighted, adding that holding onto grudges only hinders one's own spirit.
The teachings also touched on the importance of gratitude (Colossians 4:2) and perseverance (James 1:1-2). The faithful were reminded that an ungrateful heart struggles to see God's blessings, and that spiritual survival requires the patience to endure life's trials without losing heart.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of Liturgy at the parish, Mr. Peter Chando, expressed confidence that the recollection would help parishioners firmly establish themselves in their Christian walk.
"This is not a one-off event," Mr. Chando assured. "We will continue organizing talks to help Christians understand the depth of our faith whenever there is a major celebration or activity in the Church."
The event concluded with a call to action: to stop making sin a habit and to instead cultivate a life of "Thanksgiving," recognizing that every breath is a testament to God’s unfailing mercy.
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