- 1. GREETINGS: I salute Your Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Emeritus Archbishop of Abuja and past President of CBCN; I greet very warmly, Most Rev. Dr. Antonio Fillipazi, the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria. Your Grace, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, my immediate predecessor, Your Excellences, my brother bishops, priests and consecrated persons, leaders of the various lay apostolates, the Government officials, and my dearly beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, Glory be to Jesus! We thank God who has given us this opportunity to worship him. Every day of our life is a special gift from God.
I want to specially thank the Apostolic Nuncio for his services to the Church in Nigeria. Since his assumption of office, he has worked closely with the CBCN, and provided necessary help to individual bishops and has always given advice on the way forward for some challenges faced in some particular churches or
dioceses. Indeed, he has been a visible reminder that the successor of St. Peter is close to us in Nigeria to pray for us and to pray with us. Your Grace, we thank you sincerely for everything you have been doing in Nigeria. The Church
in Nigeria is grateful to you. We want you to convey our sentiments of gratitude to the Holy Father for his constant reassurance that he is close to the poor and the needy.
I thank all of you who have come to join us at this Mass. We thank all the invited guests who have honoured our invitation today. May the Holy Spirit enkindle in our hearts the desire to love God above every other thing.
2. GRATITUDE: The officers of the CBCN will be leaving office after four years. We want to thank God for the opportunity he gave us to serve the Catholic Church in Nigeria. We want to thank our brother bishops for their cooperation and solidarity. We are grateful to all priests, consecrated persons
and all the lay faithful for your prayers and support. This gratitude comes from our hearts. We are grateful to various civil government that have collaborated with us in many areas. We are grateful to those who encouraged us with their words and actions.
3. JOYFUL EVENTS IN THE CHURCH: We thank God for the many Joyful events in the Church in Nigeria since we met in Enugu August 2021 for our last plenary. Cardinal Okojie, Archbishops Patrick Ekpu, Joseph Edra Ukpo and Alaba Job celebrated their golden jubilee of episcopal ordination in Benin City. In addition, Archbishop Patrick Ekpu and Bishop Anthony Gbuji had their 9oth birthday celebration. The events were colourful and well attended.
We say thank you for your show of solidarity and oneness. The Diocese of Umuahia had centenary celebration of the Christian faith in their land.
Furthermore, the centenary of Legion of Mary was hosted by Ikot Ekpene Diocese; Kafachan had her silver jubilee. Bishop Martin Igwe Uzoukwu celebrated his silver jubilee of Episcopal ordination as well. We congratulate Bishop Hilary Okeke on his retirement. To Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye, we say congratulations on your appointment and installation as the bishop of Nnewi Diocese. Lastly, Archbishop Valerian Okeke had his 20th episcopal
ordination anniversary in Onitsha. May God be praised both now and forever.
4. SAD EVENTS IN THE CHURCH: On a very sad note, we lost Bishop Paul Olawoore to the cold hands of death. We are grateful for the time he spent with us. He served the Church well and may God grant him eternal reward in His Kingdom. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen
PATHS To BUILDING HUMAN FRATERNITY AND SUSTAINABLE PEACE IN NIGERIA: We have chosen this as our theme this year. It is a theme that addresses the core of our being. During these few days, we shall be examining ways that can lead to human fraternity that will give us sustainable peace in Nigeria. The starting point in this discourse is to know that we are all children of the same God. We come from the same stock, firom the same Creator, and we share the same planet and live in the same world. We share in the same societal pain and joy. We share in the same justice or injustice. We have a common destiny as a people. Peace that is sustainable in Nigeria requires our collective action.
6. A UNITED NIGERIA: The state of our nation is one in which we have Come to discover that God is still very much at work in our land in spite of all our failures. We have failed God as individuals who allow corruption to deprive us of living the good life God has given to us. We have failed God by allowing insecurity and criminality to thrive. Some of us may refute this claim
of individual failure to God, by saying we are not the Government. We cannot
run away from the fact that very often a people get the kind of Government they deserve. Yes, this is true. The numbers of Nigerians who vote are very few.
For those who do not vote, they have already voted by allowing a few to determine the future of the majority. The argument that INEC or other agentsmay not make our votes count is no longer acceptable. We must exercise our right to vote and then speak to protect our vote. We call on all Nigerians to get their Permanent Voters’ Card, and get ready to vote according to their personal conviction of who is capable to lead Nigeria or the State to a better life. Vote for those who can ensure the security of life and property. Vote for those who have shown that they have the capacity to unite us as a people. Vote for people who possess the capacity to make Nigeria into industrial hub for Africa. Vote for people who can make Nigeria a land of opportunity for all.
Vote for people who can make our dreams come to life.
Nigerians must resist the temptation of falling into a divisive political campaign. We are united as people who believe in One God who created all of us to live happily together in this world. We are united by all religions and beliefs that have invited us to love one another and work for the good of oursociety. We are united in our common search for a nation that cares for everyone. We are united in our common dream for a Nigeria that provides opportunities for everyone. We are united in praying and working for a Nigeria where Government at all levels are accountable to the people who gave them power. We are united in our yearning and desire for a Nigeria with strong institutions. We are all united in looking forward to a Nigeria that will be audacious enough to ensure that our constitution retlects our common aspiration to live in unity, peace and justice. We are united in Seeking a constitution that will provide for the needs of every Nigeria.
7. HOPE IN GOD: Our hope in God will never disappoint us. Let us continue to hold onto hope in God who never fails. To give up hoping for a better tomorrow is to give up on God. It is in this light I want us to keep saying the prayer for Nigeria in distress. We should persevere in prayer. Just like the am also asking
Holy Father asked the world to pray for peace in Ukraine. Every Nigerian to pray for justice and peace in Nigeria.
8. THE SYNODAL JOURNEY: The Holy Father has invited everyone to participate in the Sixteenth Ordinary Synod of Bishops coming up in October 2023. The Holy Father wants us to listen to each other and draw inspiration from the views of others. The celebration will take place and be concluded in April 2022 at the Diocesan level. We encourage all of you to participate at the parish, deanery, and national level. Express your views on how lay faithful can participate in the mission of the Church, in the governance of the Church, and present ways we can improve on exercise of authority in the Church. We are all together on a journey as pilgrims to heaven. We must help each other to reach our destination through common solitude for the spiritual growth of each one.
9.CONCLUSION: This year offers us another opportunity to fix what we got wrong in the past. I call on you to fix your mistakes in your families, your mistakes in your places of work; your mistakes in your relationships; your
mistakes in your participation in the life of the Church; your mistakes in your participation in the political life of the nation; your mistakes in any aspect of your life and that of your immediate society. As we depart from office after
four years, we ask that you pray for the next bishops who will occupy our positions. Pray to God to bless them with the wisdom, discernment and courage to lead the Church in Nigeria. We assure all of you of our continuous prayers and support. May God bless your families and keep them safe. May our mother Mary intercede for you and your loved ones. May God bless the
Catholic Church in Nigeria. May God bless Nigeria.
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