– Bishop Ayah tasks the Faithful to make Prayer their Everyday Companion
*By: Cosmas Michael Essiet*
In preparation of the anticipated Year of Jubilee in 2025, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, at his Angelus, on Sunday, 21st January, 2024, on the fifth annual celebration of the ‘Sunday of the Word of God’, declared 2024 as a Year of Prayer. The Pope said the purpose of the Year of Prayer is meant to be “a year dedicated to rediscovering the great value and absolute need for prayer in personal life, in the life of the Church, and in the world.” Continuing, he said, “I ask you to intensify your prayer, to prepare us to live this event of grace well, and to experience the strength of God’s hope.”
Consequently, a press conference was held by the Holy See Press Office on January 23rd, presenting the Year of Prayer by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, and Monsignor Graham Bell, Undersecretary of the Dicastery, whose Section oversees coordinating the Year of Prayer. Archbishop Fisichella spoke about how the Church needs to signify hope to the rest of the world and that the theme of the 2025 Year of Jubilee will be “Pilgrims of Hope.” He spoke about the spiritual significance of the Year of Prayer, as a year of preparation that goes beyond the necessary and urgent forms of structural organization. “In order for the Jubilee to be an event that spiritually enriches the life of the Church and of the entire people of God, becoming a concrete sign of hope, it has to be prepared for and lived in individual communities with that spirit of expectation which is typical of Christian hope. The Year of Prayer fully corresponds to this need,” said Archbishop Fisichella.
And so, in compliance with the Pope’s Declaration of the Year 2024 as the Year of Prayer, begining from July, 6th to November, 30th, 2024, the Church in Uyo Catholic Diocese, today, Saturday, 6th July, 2024, gathered at the St. Dominic Church of Perpetual Adoration, #2 Dominic Utuk Avenue, Uyo, for this all important exercise, beginning with the Holy Mass, that was presided over by the Chief Shepherd of Uyo Diocese, His. Lordship, Most. Rev. Dr. John Ebebe Ayah.
In his homily, Ayah reminded the faithful of the Holy Father and the Church’s invitation to the Year of Prayer, and that, it is not merely an exercise in preparation for the Jubilee Year, but a privileged time to rediscover the value of prayer and the need for daily prayer in our Christian life; “you must make prayers part and parcel of your very existence, make prayer your everyday companion… strengthen your relationship with God through prayers”, he said.
Bemoaning the fact that, the world is gradually drifting away from the norms, morals and natural order of things, and the church, in danger of losing its identity, Ayah tasked the Clergy and the lay, to intensify the teaching and the learning of the Catechism and the Church’s Documents. Continuing, he noted that, “in this digital age, the Year of Prayer offers us an opportunity to educate the people of today in prayer, and strengthen their belief in God, trusting Him to help us in our difficulties, providing all our needs.
In a special Rites after the post-communion prayer, and the ‘Prayer for Nigeria in Distress’ said, Bishop Ayah declared the Year of Prayer in Uyo Diocese opened, and re-echoed Pope Francis’ words that “Prayer unites us; it makes us brothers and sisters. It is in prayer that our hearts find the strength not to be cold and insensitive in the face of injustice. In prayer, God keeps calling us, opening our hearts to charity. ”
To God be the Glory!
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