Enugu – The Chairman, Catholic Institute of Development, Justice and Peace, Monsgnor Obiora Ike, has called on Christians to imbibe the spirit of alms giving and purification in the Lenten season.

The cleric made the call in Enugu on Wednesday.

Ike said that Lenten season was also a time of self denial, intensive prayer, change and repentance to become more disciplined for a better society.

“Lent is a very important season for the Christians. For us, lent is the time of intensive prayer, more prayer than usual, it is a time of denying ourselves a few things so that we can become more disciplined in our life styles, a time of change and repentance.

“This is also a time of alms giving, of practicing more charity so that we can become people of Heaven for a better society.

“Lent actually is a purifying moment for our nation.’’

He urged Christians to shun violence and use the period to reflect on the peace and unity of the country.

Ike, however, appealed to perpetrators of violence in the country to desist from such acts. (NAN)