On Ash Wednesday,  February 18, the faithful across the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia gathered in the different parishes of the Vicariate for the Eucharistic celebration with the Rite of the Imposition of Ashes, marking the beginning of the Season of Lent.

In St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Abu Dhabi, Bishop Paolo Martinelli presided at the Ash Wednesday Mass, with thousands of faithful filling the cathedral compound to begin together this time of conversion and renewal.

In his homily, the Bishop described Lent as a journey of healing and purification, a path that leads believers back to the Father through conversion of heart and trust in God’s mercy. In a society that often struggles to acknowledge sin and the need for forgiveness, he reminded the faithful of the importance of reconciliation and personal responsibility before God.

“The word of God just proclaimed is, first and foremost, a call to our conscience: we have sinned, we are sinners — let us return to the Lord. Let us be reconciled with God.”

He also recalled that fasting, prayer, and almsgiving are the essential gestures of the Lenten journey, helping Christians rediscover the freedom of God’s children and prepare their hearts for the celebration of the Paschal Mystery.

Across the Vicariate, the Christian communities entered the Lenten season united in prayer, beginning a path of conversion, mercy, and renewed faith.