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Unitatis Media Directorate of Social Communications, Catholic Diocese of Jalingo.

PMS NIGERIA BOOSTS EVANGELIZATION WITH MOTORCYCLE DONATION TO CATECHISTS IN JALINGO DIOCESE The Pontifical Mission Soci...
11/01/2026

PMS NIGERIA BOOSTS EVANGELIZATION WITH MOTORCYCLE DONATION TO CATECHISTS IN JALINGO DIOCESE

The Pontifical Mission Societies of Nigeria (PMS) has donated new motorcycles to catechists serving in four parishes of the Catholic Diocese of Jalingo, in a move aimed at strengthening evangelization at the grassroots level.

The motorcycles were distributed yesterday at the Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Cathedral through His Lordship, as part of PMS’ ongoing support for missionary and pastoral activities within the diocese.

The donation is expected to ease transportation challenges faced by catechists, particularly in reaching remote villages where they carry out their evangelization and pastoral assignments.

Speaking in appreciation, the beneficiary catechists expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Pontifical Mission Society for supporting their ministry, noting that the motorcycles will greatly enhance their effectiveness by making travel to out-stations and villages easier and faster.

The parishes that benefited from the donation include the Church of Assumption, Kona; Saint John the Baptist Parish, Janibanibu; Saint Agnes Parish, Dinya; and Saint Athanasius Parish, Iware.

While speaking, the PMS director, Rev Fr. Abraham G. Yahaya, reiterated that the gesture underscores the commitment of PMS to promoting missionary work especially in rural and hard-to-reach communities.

PRIESTS OF JALINGO DIOCESE CONCLUDE ANNUAL RETREATIn a week-long spiritual rejuvenation, the priests of Jalingo Diocese...
10/01/2026

PRIESTS OF JALINGO DIOCESE CONCLUDE ANNUAL RETREAT

In a week-long spiritual rejuvenation, the priests of Jalingo Diocese concluded their annual retreat at the Saint Charles Borromeo Pastoral Centre, Shavou Mile Six. The retreat served as a period of reflection, renewal, and recommitment to their sacred duties, fostering a stronger sense of community and purpose among the clergy.

The retreat's closing ceremony was marked by a Homily delivered by the Vicar Administration, Very Rev. Fr. Williams Awoshiri. He emphasized the importance of humility in the priestly ministry, drawing parallels with John the Baptist, who paved the way for Jesus Christ. Fr. Awoshiri urged the priests to remain mindful of their roles, their calling, and the need for humility to avoid potential crises within their congregations.

Very Rev. Fr. Justin Bonzena, the Vicar General, expressed his gratitude to the Chief Shepherd of the Diocese, Bishop Charles M. Hammawa for organizing the retreat. He also extended appreciation to the facilitator, Very Rev. Fr. Innocent Jooji, for his guidance and spiritual nourishment throughout the week.

On behalf of the priests, Rev. Fr. Innocent Daloba presented a token of appreciation to Fr. Innocent Jooji. He expressed the collective sentiment that the retreat had fully recharged them, instilling a renewed zeal to continue their priestly functions with greater dedication and enthusiasm.

A significant part of the closing event was a visit to the Diocesan Cemetery; where the priests offered prayers for their departed brothers, seeking eternal rest for them in Christ.

The successful conclusion of the retreat signifies a renewed commitment by the priests of the Jalingo Diocese to serve their congregations with humility, dedication, and renewed spiritual vigor. The event highlighted the importance of communal support and the pursuit of spiritual growth within the clergy.

May the Lord be the constant guide and guard to the priests of the Diocese as they carry out their duties. Amen.

HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD (YEAR A – 2026)THEME: “Beloved and sent – rediscovering our baptismal id...
10/01/2026

HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD (YEAR A – 2026)

THEME: “Beloved and sent – rediscovering our baptismal identity”

Today, the Church brings us to the banks of the River Jordan. Jesus steps out of the hidden years of Nazareth and enters the public eye, not with power, not with miracles, but with humility. He joins the line of sinners. He asks John for baptism. And immediately, a deep question rises in our hearts: Why should the sinless Son of God be baptized?

Baptism washes away sins. Baptism makes us children of God and members of the Church. Yet Christ has no sin. He is God. He is the founder of the Church. He is the Holy One. Still, He enters the waters.

Jesus is baptized not because He needs cleansing, but because we need redemption. He steps into the waters to step into our story. He stands where sinners stand so that sinners can one day stand where sons and daughters belong. In the Jordan, Jesus carries our humanity, our wounds, our failures, our history. He does not avoid our condition; He embraces it.

By entering the water, Christ does something powerful: He sanctifies the waters. From that moment, water is no longer ordinary. It becomes a womb of new life. What cleanses us in baptism is not the water itself but Christ who entered it. He goes down so that we may rise. He is immersed so that we may be reborn.

Then heaven opens. The Spirit descends. The Father speaks:
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
This is not only about Jesus. This is about us. What is said of Christ by nature is given to us by grace. Through baptism, we are no longer strangers to God. We are no longer slaves to fear. We are called sons and daughters, beloved and chosen.

The Baptism of the Lord also reveals the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Spirit—and shows us that baptism draws us into the very life of God. Christianity is not a mere religion; it is a relationship. We are plunged into divine life and made members of the Church, the Body of Christ, which He Himself instituted.

For us in Nigeria today, this feast is not distant or abstract. It is urgent and practical. In a nation wounded by insecurity, corruption, ethnic suspicion, poverty, and hopelessness, baptism reminds us who we are and how we must live. Before tribe, region, or party, we are baptized Christians. Before fear and despair, we are Spirit-filled people. Before violence and darkness, we are light.

Our baptism demands something of us. It calls us to live differently. We cannot be baptized and live in hatred. We cannot be baptized and promote injustice. We cannot be baptized and lose hope. A baptized Christian must carry Christ into homes, offices, markets, classrooms, politics, and streets.

The same Spirit who descended on Jesus rests upon us. The same Father who said, “This is my beloved Son,” whispers over every baptized life, “You belong to me.” The question is not whether we are baptized, but whether we are living our baptism.

TAKE-HOME MESSAGES

1. Baptism is not a ceremony of the past but a mission for today.
2. In Christ, your identity is greater than your problems or background.
3. You are baptized to shine, not to blend into darkness.
4. The Spirit you received is stronger than the challenges you face.
5. Live in a way that makes God say again, “This is my beloved child.”

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,
you entered the waters for our sake.
Renew in us the grace of our baptism.
Help us to live as beloved children of the Father,
filled with the Holy Spirit,
and faithful witnesses in our nation.
May our lives proclaim your love.
Amen.

🙏

09/01/2026

Evening Prayer at the ongoing Priestly Retreat @ Jalingo Diocese

THE JUBILEE YEAR OF HOPE HAS OFFICIALLY ENDEDAs we have just passed the Feast of the Epiphany in 2026, the Church has of...
07/01/2026

THE JUBILEE YEAR OF HOPE HAS OFFICIALLY ENDED

As we have just passed the Feast of the Epiphany in 2026, the Church has officially concluded the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. Here is an overview of its closing, its significance, and what lies ahead.

The Closing of the Holy Door

On January 6, 2026, the Solemnity of the Epiphany, Pope Leo XIV presided over the formal closing of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, which was opened by the late Pope Francis. This ritual, which involved the Pope kneeling in silent prayer before pushing the heavy bronze doors shut, signaled the end of the "Year of Hope." While the doors are now sealed with mortar and brick until the next Ordinary Jubilee, the Pope emphasized in his final address that the "door of God's heart" remains open to all who seek mercy and renewal, regardless of the calendar.

The Significance of the Jubilee

This Jubilee served as a spiritual reset for the global Church, focusing on the theme "Pilgrims of Hope." It was intended to offer a "balm of hope" to a world recovering from years of pandemic, conflict, and environmental anxiety. For millions of pilgrims who traveled to Rome, the year signified a journey of interior conversion, the granting of plenary indulgences, and a renewed commitment to social justice. By honoring various groups, from healthcare workers to the youth, the Church sought to demonstrate that hope is a communal effort rooted in faith.

Ordinary vs. Extraordinary Jubilees

In the Catholic Church, a Jubilee Year (or Holy Year) is a major religious event traditionally celebrated every 25 years to allow for the forgiveness of sins and the reconciliation of debts. An Ordinary Jubilee follows this fixed 25-year cycle, ensuring that every generation has the opportunity to experience at least one Holy Year. In contrast, an Extraordinary Jubilee is called by a Pope outside of this schedule to mark a specific event or to emphasize a particular theological theme—such as the 2015 "Jubilee of Mercy" called by Pope Francis to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council.

The Next Jubilee

Following the conclusion of the 2025 cycle, the next major celebration will be the Extraordinary Jubilee of 2033. This "Great Jubilee" will mark the 2,000th anniversary of the Redemption—the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. After that, the Church will return to its standard cycle with the next Ordinary Jubilee in 2050.

CATHOLIC PRIESTS IN JALINGO DIOCESE BEGIN 2026 ANNUAL RETREAT Priests of the Catholic Diocese of Jalingo have commenced ...
05/01/2026

CATHOLIC PRIESTS IN JALINGO DIOCESE BEGIN 2026 ANNUAL RETREAT

Priests of the Catholic Diocese of Jalingo have commenced their annual retreat for the year 2026, a one-week spiritual exercise aimed at deepening their priestly life and renewing their commitment to the service of God and His people.

The retreat officially kicked off today with the celebration of Holy Mass at the St Charles Borromeo Pastoral Centre Chapel, Shavou Mile Six, drawing the Priests into a period of prayer, reflection, and communion with God as they begin the week-long retreat journey.

In his homily during the Opening Mass, the retreat facilitator, Very Rev. Fr. Innocent Jooji of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, charged the Priests to embrace discipline in their vocation, warning that a lack of discipline could lead to the collapse of the very system of Christ’s ministry entrusted to them.

Very Rev. Fr. Jooji emphasized that obedience and discipline are the essential foundations of a fruitful priestly ministry. Drawing from the teachings of St. John, he reminded the priests that the spirit of truth is found in the belief that Jesus is the Son of God, urging them to keep the commandments so that they may truly abide in Him.

He cautioned against manipulating or mocking the Spirit of Christ, which is inherently good, and concluded with a heartfelt plea for the priests to avoid jealousy over each other's gifts and influence. Instead of becoming "Herods" to one another, he called them to remain committed to teaching the authentic doctrines of the Catholic Church with truth and love.

May the Gracious Lord help the priests of the Diocese to be true and faithful ministers of God and His people. Amen.

HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY. 4/1/2026Theme: “Christ Revealed to All Nations — Light for Our Journey”My dear...
03/01/2026

HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY. 4/1/2026

Theme: “Christ Revealed to All Nations — Light for Our Journey”

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany. The word Epiphany means manifestation or revelation. It is the feast that proclaims that God has made Himself known—not to one people alone, not to one race, not to one nation—but to the whole world. On Christmas night, Christ was revealed to the shepherds, the poor of Israel. Today, He is revealed to the nations of the world, represented by the Wise Men.

The Gospel presents to us the Magi—men of wisdom, seekers of truth, foreigners who followed a star in search of the newborn King. They travelled through uncertainty, danger, and long distances, guided only by a light God placed in the sky. This already speaks to our Nigerian situation today, where many families are walking through uncertainty—economic hardship, insecurity, confusing policies, and fear of the future. Epiphany assures us that God still provides light even when the road is unclear.

Sacred Scripture does not mention the number or names of the Wise Men, but Sacred Tradition hands down their names and origins, helping us understand the universality of this feast:
• Melchior, from Persia (Middle East), who offered gold, proclaiming Jesus as King.
• Caspar (Gaspar), from India or Arabia, who offered frankincense, proclaiming Jesus as God, worthy of worship.
• Balthasar, from Africa, often linked with Ethiopia or North Africa, who offered myrrh, pointing to Jesus as Man who would suffer and die.

Their gifts were prophetic. Gold tells us that Jesus Christ is King—not a king who oppresses, but one who serves. Frankincense tells us He is God—worthy of prayer, reverence, and obedience. Myrrh tells us He is human—one who enters suffering to redeem us.

This speaks powerfully to Nigeria today. In a time of economic hardship and new tax laws, gold challenges both leaders and citizens to ask: Who truly rules our decisions—God or money? When survival becomes difficult, the temptation to compromise, cheat, or oppress others increases. Epiphany reminds us that economic policies must be guided by justice and compassion, and citizens must resist corruption even under pressure.

Frankincense challenges our worship. In the midst of insecurity, fear, and political tension, many Nigerians are tempted to replace prayer with panic, or faith with anger. Epiphany reminds us that a nation that forgets God loses its moral compass. True worship shapes conscience and restrains violence.

Myrrh speaks loudly to our situation of insecurity and violence. Herod feared losing power and chose violence instead of conversion. Nigeria today suffers when leaders are more concerned about securing offices than securing lives. Epiphany reminds us that any leadership that protects power but neglects human life stands under God’s judgment.

Epiphany also proclaims that Jesus is not the monopoly of Israel alone. Salvation is not limited to one tribe, culture, or continent. God deliberately chose foreigners to be among the first worshippers of His Son. This is important in a Nigeria divided by ethnicity, religion, and political camps. Epiphany calls us to rise above tribalism, religious suspicion, and partisan hatred.

This feast also speaks deeply to us as Africans and Nigerians. Africa is not a newcomer to Christianity. One of the Wise Men—Balthasar—is traditionally believed to have come from Africa. Africa was present at the cradle of Christ. This means Nigerians should never feel inferior or apologetic about their Christian faith. We belong fully to God’s plan.

Finally, after encountering Christ, the Magi did not return to Herod; they went home by another route. This speaks directly to our political life marked by elections, defections, broken promises, and shifting loyalties. Epiphany teaches us that once we claim to have met Christ, we cannot continue the same old ways—deceit, injustice, violence, and selfish ambition. An encounter with Christ demands a new direction, personally, communally, and nationally.

Take-Home Messages
• God’s light still shines even in Nigeria’s uncertainty.
• Jesus is King; power must serve life, not destroy it.
• Economic hardship must never justify corruption or injustice.
• Africa and Nigeria are not outsiders in God’s plan of salvation.
• Worship of God must shape our conscience and public life.
• A true encounter with Christ demands conversion and a new path.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, Light of the nations,
shine upon Nigeria in this time of trial.
Guide our leaders, protect the innocent,
strengthen the poor, and convert our hearts.
May we follow Your light and never return to the ways of darkness.
Amen.

CAN CALLS FOR PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE AS TARABA BEGINS THE NEW YEAR IN PRAYER The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), T...
02/01/2026

CAN CALLS FOR PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE AS TARABA BEGINS THE NEW YEAR IN PRAYER

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Taraba State Chapter, has described the new year as a fresh chapter and a divine opportunity for renewal, reconciliation, repentance and recommitment to the service of God and humanity. This message was delivered during the CAN combined service held at the CAN Secretariat, marking the association’s first service of the year.

In his New Year address, the Chairman of CAN in Taraba State, Rev. Fr. Williams Awoshiri, urged Christian ministers to use the pulpit responsibly. He emphasized that preaching should build faith, promote godly values and nurture moral discipline, warning against the misuse of the pulpit as a platform for personal attacks, hate speech, incitement or reckless utterances capable of deepening societal divisions.

Rev. Fr. Awoshiri also commended the Taraba State Government under the leadership of Governor Kefas Agbu for its efforts in addressing security challenges across the State . While acknowledging the progress made so far, he noted that security remains a concern in some areas and called on the government to intensify its efforts by increasing security presence in vulnerable communities.

He further appealed to residents of Taraba State and its environs to remain committed to peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and responsible citizenship. According to him, sustainable peace can only be achieved when citizens reject violence and consistently embrace dialogue as a means of resolving differences.

Addressing the congregation, the Executive Governor of Taraba State, His Excellency Dr. Agbu Kefas, stated that leadership for him is purely about service. He described Taraba as “God’s own State” with numerous needs to be met, noting, however, that limited resources require the application of scale of preference in governance. The governor appealed to the people to be patient, assuring them that all needs would be addressed in due course.

Governor Kefas also offered prayers for unity and divine mercy, quoting Psalm 133:1 to underscore the importance of harmony. He prayed that God’s mercy would rest upon families, the state and the nation at large as Nigeria journeys through the new year.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Christian Religious Matters, Rev. Fr. Sunday Muke Patrick , reiterated God’s promises to humanity, quoting Isaiah 43:19: “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” He described the passage as a powerful assurance that encourages believers to step into the new year boldly with hope, faith and confidence in God’s plans.

In a significant highlight of the service, the Christian Association of Nigeria, North-East Zone, (WOWICAN),under the leadership of Ambassador Rebecca Anthony, appointed Governor Kefas Agbu as its Patron. The appointment was made in recognition of his efforts in piloting the affairs of Taraba State and his position as the only Christian governor in the North-Eastern region of Nigeria.

The CAN first service of the year was well attended by prominent dignitaries, including His Lordship, Bishop Michael Hammawa; the Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kizito John Bonzena; the Chief Judge of the State;and other top religious and government officials, underscoring the spirit of unity and collective commitment that marked the occasion.

May the new year be a favourable and grace-filled one for the State. Amen.

02/01/2026

Christian Association of Nigeria (Taraba State Chapter)Combined Service, Jan. 2026.

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Shavou, Mile Six
Jalingo

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