PANAJI: The season of Lent commenced on Ash Wednesday with the celebration of the Eucharist and blessing of the Ashes at the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church in Panaji. Referring to the Lenten message of Pope Francis, Parish Priest Fr Walter de Sa called for personal and community renewal by "sowing goodness" as taught by St Paul. “Let us not grow weary of doing good,” said Fr de Sa. The Ashes were blessed and distributed in packets to the participants at all Masses, in keeping with the Covid appropriate behaviour. The words of God, “Remember, man, thou art dust and unto dust, thou shall return” were inscribed on the packets. Being partakers in the common priesthood, Fr de Sa recommended to the heads of family to hold a common family prayer wherein they could place the Ashes on the heads of the household members
