Pax Christi Media

21/04/2024

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
FOR THE 61st WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

[21 April 2024]

Called to sow seeds of hope and to build peace

Dear brothers and sisters!

Each year, the World Day of Prayer for Vocations invites us to reflect on the precious gift of the Lord’s call to each of us, as members of his faithful pilgrim people, to participate in his loving plan and to embody the beauty of the Gospel in different states of life. Hearing that divine call, which is far from being an imposed duty – even in the name of a religious ideal – is the surest way for us to fulfil our deepest desire for happiness. Our life finds fulfilment when we discover who we are, what our gifts are, where we can make them bear fruit, and what path we can follow in order to become signs and instruments of love, generous acceptance, beauty and peace, wherever we find ourselves.

This Day, then, is always a good occasion to recall with gratitude to the Lord the faithful, persevering and frequently hidden efforts of all those who have responded to a call that embraces their entire existence. I think of mothers and fathers who do not think first of themselves or follow fleeting fads of the moment, but shape their lives through relationships marked by love and graciousness, openness to the gift of life and commitment to their children and their growth in maturity. I think of all those who carry out their work in a spirit of cooperation with others, and those who strive in various ways to build a more just world, a more solidary economy, a more equitable social policy and a more humane society. In a word, of all those men and women of good will who devote their lives to working for the common good. I think too of all those consecrated men and women who offer their lives to the Lord in the silence of prayer and in apostolic activity, sometimes on the fringes of society, tirelessly and creatively exercising their charism by serving those around them. And I think of all those who have accepted God’s call to the ordained priesthood, devoting themselves to the preaching of the Gospel, breaking open their own lives, together with the bread of the Eucharist, for their brothers and sisters, sowing seeds of hope and revealing to all the beauty of God’s kingdom.

To young people, and especially those who feel distant or uncertain about the Church, I want to say this: Let Jesus draw you to himself; bring him your important questions by reading the Gospels; let him challenge you by his presence, which always provokes in us a healthy crisis. More than anyone else, Jesus respects our freedom. He does not impose, but proposes. Make room for him and you will find the way to happiness by following him. And, should he ask it of you, by giving yourself completely to him.

A people on the move

The polyphony of diverse charisms and vocations that the Christian community recognizes and accompanies helps us to appreciate more fully what it means to be Christians. As God’s people in this world, guided by his Holy Spirit, and as living stones in the Body of Christ, we come to realize that we are members of a great family, children of the Father and brothers and sisters of one another. We are not self-enclosed islands but parts of a greater whole. In this sense, the World Day of Prayer for Vocations has a synodal character: amid the variety of our charisms, we are called to listen to one another and to journey together in order to acknowledge them and to discern where the Spirit is leading us for the benefit of all.

At this point in time, then, our common journey is bringing us to the Jubilee Year of 2025. Let us travel as pilgrims of hope towards the Holy Year, for by discovering our own vocation and its place amid the different gifts bestowed by the Spirit, we can become for our world messengers and witnesses of Jesus’ dream of a single human family, united in God’s love and in the bond of charity, cooperation and fraternity.

This Day is dedicated in a particular way to imploring from the Father the gift of holy vocations for the building up of his Kingdom: “Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest” (Lk 10:2). Prayer – as we all know – is more about listening to God than about talking to him. The Lord speaks to our heart, and he wants to find it open, sincere and generous. His Word became flesh in Jesus Christ, who reveals to us the entire will of the Father. In this present year, devoted to prayer and preparation for the Jubilee, all of us are called to rediscover the inestimable blessing of our ability to enter into heartfelt dialogue with the Lord and thus become pilgrims of hope. For “prayer is the first strength of hope. You pray and hope grows, it moves forward. I would say that prayer opens the door to hope. Hope is there, but by my prayer I open the door” (Catechesis, 20 May 2020).

Pilgrims of hope and builders of peace

Yet what does it mean to be pilgrims? Those who go on pilgrimage seek above all to keep their eyes fixed on the goal, to keep it always in their mind and heart. To achieve that goal, however, they need to concentrate on every step, which means travelling light, getting rid of what weighs them down, carrying only the essentials and striving daily to set aside all weariness, fear, uncertainty and hesitation. Being a pilgrim means setting out each day, beginning ever anew, rediscovering the enthusiasm and strength needed to pursue the various stages of a journey that, however tiring and difficult, always opens before our eyes new horizons and previously unknown vistas.

This is the ultimate meaning of our Christian pilgrimage: we set out on a journey to discover the love of God and at the same time to discover ourselves, thanks to an interior journey nourished by our relationships with others. We are pilgrims because we have been called: called to love God and to love one another. Our pilgrimage on this earth is far from a pointless journey or aimless wandering; on the contrary, each day, by responding to God’s call, we try to take every step needed to advance towards a new world where people can live in peace, justice and love. We are pilgrims of hope because we are pressing forward towards a better future, committed at every step to bringing it about.

This is, in the end, the goal of every vocation: to become men and women of hope. As individuals and as communities, amid the variety of charisms and ministries, all of us are called to embody and communicate the Gospel message of hope in a world marked by epochal challenges. These include the baneful spectre of a third world war fought piecemeal; the flood of migrants fleeing their homelands in search of a better future; the burgeoning numbers of the poor; the threat of irreversibly compromising the health of our planet. To say nothing of all the difficulties we encounter each day, which at times risk plunging us into resignation or defeatism.

In our day, then, it is decisive that we Christians cultivate a gaze full of hope and work fruitfully in response to the vocation we have received, in service to God’s kingdom of love, justice and peace. This hope – Saint Paul tells us – “does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5), since it is born of the Lord’s promise that he will remain always with us and include us in the work of redemption that he wants to accomplish in the heart of each individual and in the “heart” of all creation. This hope finds its propulsive force in Christ’s resurrection, which “contains a vital power which has permeated this world. Where all seems to be dead, signs of the resurrection suddenly spring up. It is an irresistible force. Often it seems that God does not exist: all around us, we see persistent injustice, evil, indifference and cruelty. But it is also true that in the midst of darkness something new always springs to life and sooner or later produces fruit” (Evangelii Gaudium, 276). Again, the Apostle Paul tells us that, “in hope we were saved” (Rom 8:24). The redemption accomplished in the paschal mystery is a source of hope, a sure and trustworthy hope, thanks to which we can face the challenges of the present.

To be pilgrims of hope and builders of peace, then, means to base our lives on the rock of Christ’s resurrection, knowing that every effort made in the vocation that we have embraced and seek to live out, will never be in vain. Failures and obstacles may arise along the way, but the seeds of goodness we sow are quietly growing and nothing can separate us from the final goal: our encounter with Christ and the joy of living for eternity in fraternal love. This ultimate calling is one that we must anticipate daily: even now our loving relationship with God and our brothers and sisters is beginning to bring about God’s dream of unity, peace and fraternity. May no one feel excluded from this calling! Each of us in our own small way, in our particular state of life, can, with the help of the Spirit, be a sower of seeds of hope and peace.

The courage to commit

In this light, I would say once more, as I did at World Youth Day in Lisbon: “Rise up!” Let us awaken from sleep, let us leave indifference behind, let us open the doors of the prison in which we so often enclose ourselves, so that each of us can discover his or her proper vocation in the Church and in the world, and become a pilgrim of hope and a builder of peace! Let us be passionate about life, and commit ourselves to caring lovingly for those around us, in every place where we live. Let me say it again: “Have the courage to commit!” Father Oreste Benzi, a tireless apostle of charity, ever on the side of the poor and the defenseless, used to say that no one is so poor as to have nothing to give, and no one is so rich as not to need something to receive.

Let us rise up, then, and set out as pilgrims of hope, so that, as Mary was for Elizabeth, we too can be messengers of joy, sources of new life and artisans of fraternity and peace.

Rome, Saint John Lateran, 21 April 2024, Fourth Sunday of Easter.

FRANCIS

13/04/2024

PEACE IN ACTION!

Not relenting on his journey of peace, the Catholic Bishop of Wukari, Most Rev. Mark Nzukwein ordained his Trinitarian priests.
During this ceremony, the newly ordained priests were culturally crossed-dressed in their diverse cultural attire. The Tiv dressed in Jukun attire, Jukun dressed in Tiv cultural attire while the Ososo dressed in Itilo cultural attire.
All the above is to pass a message of the joy of peace and togetherness.
Congratulations to the newly ordained priests of Wukari Diocese.

13/04/2024

1st Anniversary of the er****on of the Diocese & Priestly Ordination.

12/04/2024

30/03/2024

Passion play by the youth of St Mary's Cathedral, Wukari, Taraba State

26/03/2024

The bishop, Most Rev. Mark M. Nzukwein, priests and the faithful of Wukari Diocese at the First Chrism Mass as a Diocese. || 26TH MARCH 2024.

Pax Christi Media

11/03/2024

Photos from the just concluded First Wukari Diocesan General Assembly. || 4TH - 8TH MARCH 2024

THEME: The Church of Wukari Diocese at the Service of Reconciliation, Justice, Development and Peace. (II COR. 5:18-20)

09/03/2024

A COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF WUKARI HELD AT ST. MARY’S CATHEDRAL, WUKARI, TARABA STATE, NIGERIA FROM 4TH TO 8TH MARCH, 2024.
PREAMBLE
We, the Bishop, Priests, Consecrated Persons and the Lay Faithful of the Catholic Diocese of Wukari, held our first General Assembly at St. Mary’s Cathedral, from 4th to 8th March, 2024. Having prayerfully reflected and deliberated on the theme: “THE CHURCH OF WUKARI DIOCESE AT THE SERVICE OF RECONCILIATION, JUSTICE, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE” (II Cor 5:18-20), we hereby issue this Communiqué.
1. GRATITUDE
We are grateful to God for the gift of our new Diocese and to Pope Francis for the appointment of Most Rev. Mark Maigida Nzukwein as the first Bishop. The er****on of the Diocese and his ordination were all successfully carried out and celebrated on 13th April, 2023. Since this epoch making event, our Diocese has experienced numerous material and spiritual blessings.
2. SYNODALITY AND COLLABORATIVE MINISTRY
According to the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in their Communique issued at the end of their first plenary held from 16th to 22nd February, 2024 at the Catholic Secretariat Abuja, “Synodality is an expression of the nature of the Church as communion. It obliges us as Church to walk together within the Apostolic Tradition which without ignoring the signs of the times takes cognizance of what has been held as the Deposit of Faith, always, everywhere and by all.” As a Diocese and in the spirit of synodality we identify collaborative ministry as a veritable instrument in the furtherance of the work of evangelization. We advocate that the Priests, Consecrated persons and the Laity of the Diocese put heads together and foster healthy relationships in the effort to build our Diocese and also enhance the preaching of the Gospel of unity to all.


3. THE CHURCH AND COMMON GOOD
The Catholic faith is anchored on the fundamental virtue of love and common good of all as upheld by Jesus Christ and transmitted through Apostolic succession. “Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind; no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common” (Acts 4:32).
In a world where God's purpose for humanity has been greatly misunderstood and eroded by greed, disunity and inhumanity, the solution remains seeking for the common good of everybody. The Catholic Church in Wukari Diocese, therefore, advocates that to entrench social order and create an equitable and a stable society, deliberate efforts must be made to have inclusive application of justice and fairness in every aspect of social good to all.
The duty of government at all levels must be to ensure justice and fairness in relationship between individuals making up every strata of the society. Provision of amenities and opportunities should be aimed to accommodate all. Giving inclusive attention to the welfare of all, devoid of ethnic, religious and any other reasons is the panacea to all forms of crises and instability in Nigeria and elsewhere as this will engender peace, growth and progress in any nation. Central and Southern Taraba just like many parts of North Eastern Nigeria has for quite long been plagued with civil unrest and instability and in need of peace, stability and development. Hence, we call on the government and all stakeholders to place the common good of all above any other considerations.
4. CONFLICTS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN TARABA
The past and ongoing conflict in Taraba State especially in the Central and Southern parts is a complex phenomenon where thousands of people are being killed and displaced. In most cases, the conflicts are oversimplified, under-reported or completely neglected. The conflicts are either about land, politics and conquest.
The church acknowledges that conflict has always been the bane of development and the cause of tension. Apart from killing an individual or group emotionally and spiritually, destructive conflicts hurt group cohesion, promote interpersonal hostilities, divert energies, create bad feelings, lead to high labour turnover, costly litigations and it can even kill physically. Conflicts have led to tremendous human suffering and are a significant threat to these regions in the State.
However, it is not only cultural differences that lead to conflict but the political, ideological, and economic goals of the perpetrators, regardless of whether these actors are stakeholders or ethnic groups. The Catholic Church of the Diocese of Wukari calls on all those who are actors in the lingering conflicts to sheath their swords, forgive one another and embrace peace and give way for the preservation of human life and physical development. The government and the security agencies must step up and perform their roles to secure lives and property.
5. THE RETURN AND INTEGRATION OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS)
The process of Reconciliation needs justice and peace to flourish. This can only be possible when internal wounds caused by conflict are carefully given curative measures through dialogue and conscience formation of the warring parties. It also requires face to face meeting like Esau did to meet his brother Jacob, hugging him, throwing his arms around him, kissing him and weeping away their grievances and squabbles (Genesis 33:4). This gesture clearly shows that reconciliation does not take place in a vacuum but requires the physical presence of the warring parties. Hence, we call on the Taraba State government whose primary duty is to ensure the welfare of citizens, to facilitate a successful return and reintegration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the State as the farming season approaches. This vital tool can bring about a lasting peace that forms an intrinsic component of peace-building plans. It is no doubt a complex and daunting process, often requiring resources, technical skills and meticulous planning. We strongly believe that if painfully followed will in the end help in tackling food insecurity in the State and beyond.
6. EDUCATION AS A TOOL FOR PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE
We underscore the fact that education plays a pivotal role in the intellectual, moral, cultural and human formation of citizens everywhere. Education clears ignorance and empowers citizens; hence the maxim "education is power."
Thus, while we applaud the free education policy of the government of Taraba State, we call on her to ensure standard and quality in all her institutions. We equally call on the government to give us the needed support to run our schools as well as to return the Mission schools taken over by the government since we are all partners in the education of our citizens. We dare to posit that this partnership will foster a wholistic education of citizens. A functional education, an enlightened and empowered population will ensure understanding, peaceful coexistence and progress in our communities.

CONCLUSION
With the creation of Wukari Diocese and with the efforts being made by the church to promote peaceful coexistence in Central and Southern Taraba, we are hopeful that with the help of God peace will return soonest. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace intercede for us. Amen.
Signed:

…………………………………..
Most Rev Mark Maigida Nzukwein
(Catholic Bishop of Wukari Diocese)
…………………………………….
Very Rev Fr Simon Akuraga
(Chancellor)

08/03/2024

Closing Mass of the First General Assembly of Wukari Diocese || 8TH MARCH 2024

06/03/2024

A recap of sessions from Day 1 and 2 of the ongoing Wukari Diocese General Assembly || 6TH MARCH 2024.

05/03/2024

Photo Session of the Inaugural Mass of the First Diocesan General Assembly || 5TH MARCH 2024.

22/02/2024

CBCN COMMUNIQUE: FIRST 2024 PLENARY
JOURNEYING TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD IN THE CHURCH AND OUR NATION

A Communiqué issued at the end of the First Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria Resource Centre, Durumi, Abuja, 16 to 22 February, 2024

PREAMBLE

We, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, held our First Plenary Meeting for the year at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria Resource Centre, Durumi, Abuja, from 16 to 22 February, 2024. Having prayerfully reflected on the theme: Synod on Synodality: Areas of Concern for the Church in Nigeria as well as on the situation of our country, we issue this Communiqué:

THE SYNOD ON SYNODALITY: OUR JOURNEY SO FAR

The Church is no stranger to synods, which have their roots in the early Christian Community. The word Synod from which synodality is derived conveys the idea of a journey undertaken together, listening to the Holy Spirit and to the voices of all segments of the faithful, where decisions are made collectively, dialogue promoted, and active participation encouraged. The first part of the Synod on Synodality for the Universal Church, was held at the Vatican from 4 to 29 October 2023. It was an enriching and engaging experience within the Church. The second part will be held in October 2024.

Synodality is an expression of the nature of the Church as communion. It obliges us as Church to walk together within the Apostolic Tradition which without ignoring the signs of the times takes cognizance of what has been held as the Deposit of Faith, always, everywhere and by all.

There is no doubt that the way the Church is run in most parishes and dioceses in Nigeria bear laudable marks of Synodality such as Parish Pastoral Councils, Presbyteral Councils, and College of Consultors. Also there is the active participation of the different sodalities and other lay organizations in the life of the Church. Nevertheless, there is the need to strengthen these Institutions by promoting the principles of listening and dialogue. In fidelity to the Deposit of Faith, we renew our call on Priests to cultivate greater respect for the liturgical norms and avoid abuses, in celebrating the Eucharist and other sacraments. A Synodal Church, no doubt, generates healthy citizens who, in turn, work for the promotion of the dignity of the human person and the development of the Country.

FIDUCIA SUPPLICANS: SOME CLARIFICATIONS

The Declaration by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Fiducia Supplicans (on the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings) has generated a lot of controversies. Many Episcopal Conferences have taken their position on this document. We re-affirm the age long teaching of the Church on the Sacrament of Marriage as a union between one man and one-woman Code of Canon Law, Canon 1055); Catechism of the Catholic Church, N. 2335). We reject the reading of the Declaration that suggests that Priests could bless same-sex couples or other couples in irregular situations such as those of polygamists, and the divorce and remarried, in a way that legitimizes such unions.

We, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria affirm our loyalty to the teaching of Christ and the Holy Father the Pope. As we have already stated as Conference and as part of Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), we reiterate that Priests are not to bless samesex couples in Nigeria. Homosexual acts are acts of grave depravity which are intrinsically disordered and, above all, contrary to natural law (Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:31; Matthew 19:5-6); CCC. N. 2357)

SITUATION OF THE NATION

We express strong solidarity with our people who are suffering in the seriously deteriorating situation of the nation, especially in the areas of security and economy.

Insecurity has attained yet a higher scale than we had ever seen before in the land. Insurgents, armed herdsmen, bandits, and the so-called unknown gunmen have continued to unleash terror in different parts of the country. Kidnapping for ransom has reached homes and areas where in the pass it was thought impossible. The result is that many have fled their homes, abandoned their farms, shops, businesses and other sources of livelihood. The number of internally-displaced persons in our country is ever growing. We are making yet another passionate appeal to Government to act immediately to stem the tide. The legitimacy of government depends on its capacity to protect life and property.

Our worsening economy has continued to make living hard and difficult for our people who have been subjected to a life of grinding poverty, continuing hunger and untold hardship. The situation is worsened by the high unemployment rate in the country, which has further impoverished and degraded our citizens.

We note the efforts of the Federal Government in addressing some of our key economic problems. While we understand the reasons behind some of the reforms, it is our view that some of these policies seem not to have been properly thought through and as such the outcomes seem to fall short of expectations. For instance, while the fuel subsidy removal was meant to help improve government’s revenue which has been the case across the three levels of government, the impact on Nigerians has been debilitating. Similarly, we note that the decision to “float the Naira” has had unintended negative and harsh consequences. In the light of this, we urge government to urgently address the increasing disaffection and restiveness spreading across the population, in order to avoid a descent into chaos and anarchy.

Way Forward

Promoting social cohesion and good governance
In view of government’s effort to end insecurity, we recommend that the ongoing discussion about the creation of State Police be carefully studied. Furthermore, government ought to assess the impact of all other already existing security outfit in this regard.

Given the diminishing purchasing power of the Nigerian currency, and the capacity of agriculture to be the bedrock of our survival, we urge government to create the necessary and conducive environment that would enable our people to return to their farms.

We commend government’s decision to transfer some items, such as electricity and railways, from the exclusive list to the concurrent list. We urge that this be extended to such other areas of the economy like mining. These measures, along with transparency and accountability in governance, are some of the factors that promote social cohesion.

We enjoin government at all levels to establish small scale industries in the rural areas to increase productivity and reduce unemployment. It would be helpful if such industries are agro based.

The Media play a critical role in nation building. They have the capacity to inform, enlighten and guide the government and citizens on important matters of governance, citizenship and patriotism. They also act as watchdogs for good governance. Rather than seek to repress or intimidate the media, we call on government and other relevant authorities to help the media perform their role responsibly and optimally. To this end, we recommend that the fundamental rights of media workers be respected. We equally advocate for the responsible use of the mainstream and social media by all.

b)Journeying Together

We enjoin government to open up to the contribution of all segments and levels of the Nigerian community, so that together we can face the emergency situation in which we now find ourselves. It is no longer acceptable for our leaders to surround themselves only with their political supporters and cronies. The general elections and determination of petitions are now over. It is time to run government for the common good. The nation needs to leave all polarizations behind and come together in unity and cohesion. We have both the natural and human resources to get this done. But those now in political power owe the nation the duty to create the enabling environment for all capable Nigerians to participate in the task of national rebirth. Politicians who are not in power and all other Nigerians now should be ready to offer their positive contribution, beyond all political party affiliation and sensitivity.

c) Hope in God and our Need for Repentance

In spite of the challenges facing our nation, we cannot give up hope. All is not lost. We have all it takes to rescue our nation. Our confidence is based on our trust in God and in our capability as a nation, with the grace of God in whom almost all Nigerians believe. Our prayers for Nigeria are not futile and should continue. Nevertheless, our trust in God must go hand in hand with our human efforts. Religious leaders should promote sincere and genuine godliness and righteousness in their religious communities, upholding among their followership honesty and hard work and condemning corruption in all its forms, in both private and public life.

We equally call on the entire Nigerian elite including professionals, business people, and financial operators, many of whom have for long benefited from the corrupt system to repent and change their attitude of greed and selfishness. Furthermore, civil servants and public office holders, who have not been running our public institutions with honesty and rectitude, need to change their ways. As the government demands additional sacrifice from the citizens, one expects to see a drastic cut in the cost of running government at all levels. We urge all to have a sincere change of heart. Nonetheless, we call on government to prosecute crime and criminality wherever they are found. We commend those who have been trying to behave well against all odds, and encourage them not to give up.



NEWS FROM THE CHURCH

We acknowledge God’s bountiful blessings on the Church in Nigeria as we thank the Holy Father, Pope Francis for the following appointments: Most Reverend Gerald Mamman Musa as the bishop of the newly created Diocese of Katsina the ceremony took place on the 12 December, 2023; Most Rev. Habila Tyiakwonaboi Daboh as the Bishop of Zaria Diocese the ceremony took place on the 14 December, 2023; Most Rev. Anselm Pendo Lawani as the Bishop of Ilorin Diocese the ceremony took place on the 2 February, 2024. We are equally grateful to the Holy Father, Pope Francis for the appointment of Most Rev. Simeon Okezuo Nwobi as Auxiliary Bishop of Ahiara Diocese. His episcopal ordination took place on the 19 December, 2023 and the recent appointment of Rt Rev. Msgr Thomas Ifeanyichukwu Obiatuegwu as Auxiliary Bishop of Orlu diocese. His Episcopal Ordination comes up on 20 March, 2024. May the Church of Christ continue to flourish in our country. We rejoice with the Dioceses of Minna, Abakaliki and Issele-Uku for the Golden Jubilee of their er****on. We pray for a more fruitful pastoral life in these Dioceses, while we thank God for the achievement.

We congratulate the Pan African Episcopal Committee for Social Communication for the 50th Anniversary of its establishment which held from 18 to 21 November, 2023 at Lumen Christi Retreat and Media Centre, Lekki – Lagos. May the fruits of the celebration continue to animate our pastoral life in the Church and society. We thank the Archdiocese of Lagos for hosting the event on behalf of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria.

In Prayer, we look forward to the International Eucharistic Congress holding in Quito, Ecuador from 8-15 September, 2024.

CONCLUSION: STARTING AFRESH WITH GOD

The season of Lent affords us the opportunity to start afresh with God as individuals, as Church and as a nation. This holy season draws our attention to reparation, reconciliation and sanctification. In prayer, we deepen our relationship with the God. In fasting and abstinence, we discipline our bodies, deny ourselves of legitimate pleasure and yield our bodies to the direction of the Spirit. In almsgiving, we demonstrate our concern for the needy and the less privileged. By so doing, our synodality as a Church and as a nation becomes strengthened and impactful.

As we commit ourselves to the Lenten observances we pray: may your love be upon us O Lord as we place all our hope in you (Ps 33:22). May our Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of hope and of all consolation continue to intercede for us. Amen.

+ Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, President, CBCN and Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese.

+ Donatus A. Ogun, OSA, CBCN Secretary and Bishop of Uromi Diocese.