It is time when Christians are invited to deepen their commitment to God.

Three weeks into the 2012 Lent season, Catholic Christians in Cameroon are up to the task. In Yaounde, most churches are open all day to give Christians a chance to pray and seek the face of God. Since Ash Wednesday, different churches have modified their activities to meet the demands of the season.

Prayer books and prayer guides are sold weekly in parishes to guide Christians in their prayers. At the prayer ground in Catholic Mission Mvolyé, the number of Christians who come for morning prayers has increased. As early as 6:00 a.m, many Christians rush to the grotto to pray before beginning their daily chores. Pauline who lives in Mvolyé said she prefers to go for payers early because of her tight schedule. She said even if she does not go to church, she prays at home, using her prayer guide so as to keep abreast with the church’s schedule.

The 40 days of Lent that lead to Easter are of great spiritual importance in the Catholic Christian calendar. Lent is a time when Christians are invited to examine their faith and deepen their commitment to lead true Christian lives. This is the case with Emerand Ndzouli Zanga. He was seen sitting on his wheelchair in the premises of the Our Lady of Victories Cathedral in downtown Yaounde yesterday, meditating. He said during this period, he fasts and prays more and avoids bad habits such as quarrelling, anger and bearing grudges. It is also a time to forsake worldly pleasures such as sexual intercourse so as to draw closer to God, he said.

Lent is also a time of reconciling with God. For many Christians, it is an opportunity to go back to the Lord. Elizabeth Dibanda, a Catholic Christian in Yaounde said Lent is a time of prayer, sharing, penitence and forgiveness. She said she started fasting even before Ash Wednesday. She explained that in her prayers, she asks for pardon. “We also pray to God to grant us the grace to do our work well,’ she said. Another Christian, Anne Nem, said during this period, she prays more not only for her family, but for all Christian families.

“We pray especially for families with stubborn children so that the hand of God may touch them to know Him,” she said. She fasts from 6:00 am to 4:00 p.m. On Fridays, she attends the Stations of the Cross and Rosary prayer sessions in her parish.