Ash Wednesday – the first day of Lent is a movable-date celebration in the Catholic Church that occurs annually before Easter. On this day, ashes from the burned palm branches from the Palm (Passion) Sunday of the previous year are blessed and placed on the heads of church members during Holy Mass. It is a sign of human repentance or metanoia, that is, conversion or re-conversion to an authentic Christian way of life.
This year, 2025, Ash Wednesday was celebrated on 5th March. As usual, pastoral units were filled with many believers, Catholics and non-Catholics – very different from the other days of the week which speaks of the significance of Ash Wednesday. Indeed, it was a unique day. Hence the social media was afloat with the celebration and photographs taken therefrom, exposing joyfully foreheads marked with ashes. Our brothers and sisters – the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) irking a living at different Camps in the Diocese due to incessant Fulani herdsmen attacks were, also, not left out in this euphoria. What could be the reason?
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Most Revd Wilfred Chikpa ANAGBE, CMF led all his priests, consecrated men and women to all the IDP Camps in the Diocese – to administer the Sacraments of Penance (Confession) and Holy Eucharist, to place ashes in the sign of the cross on their foreheads, to give other desired attention, to present edifying and consoling talks vis-à-vis the topic: “Jubilee of the Poor and IDPs” in line with Pope Francis’ Jubilee Year of Hope. They were enlightened to understand and see themselves as pilgrims of hope. Hence our hope will not disappoint us (Romans 5:5). Of course, “In hope we were saved” (Romans 8:24). Hope is the modality that describes Christian existence and the presupposition behind the human “will to live”.
Thus, man is created in a unique way to live in society with hope – in relatedness to one another and live for one another. Luke 11:5-15 which describes a parable about a brother giving to a friend who asks for bread at midnight comes to mind. He responded positively to his needy friend not because he has but because he felt his condition, he saw himself as been in that difficult situation, he felt for his friend, he considered his friend a neighbour, he loved his neighbour (cf. Matthew 22:39). Thus, identifying, fraternising, assisting those on the margin of the society or traumatised by unfortunate man’s acts is healing to society.
All Christians are invited to this way of life which has become synonymous with Bishop Anagbe who often identified with the needy like the IDPs, saying: “I am one of you”. Recently on Ash Wednesday, the Bishop leading the priests, religious and some laity of his Diocese, said: “Let us go to the IDP Camps; they are our brothers and sisters. They are humans like us who need our care and attention”. Each of the nine (9) IDP Camps within Makurdi Diocese had a good number of priests to attend to them – MEGA Camp (22 priests); Ortese Camp (22 priests); Daudu II Camp (8 priests); John Mark Camp (11 priests); Gbajimba Camp (11 priests); Abagena Camp (14 priests); Naka IDP Camps (15 priests); Agagbe Camp (3 priests); Uikpam Camp (10 priests). The Bishop was at the MEGA Camp where he also presided over the Holy Mass. Indeed, ‘The joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the men of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted in any way, are the joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well” (GS, no. 1).
This visit of the Bishop and priests to the Camps was really a comforting and consoling moment for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). While appreciating the Bishop, his priests and some lay members who accompanied them, the IDPs gave testimonies from the talks presented to them as enlightening, comforting, consoling, faith strengthening, hope activating. It was a gesture that ignited smiles, laughter and dispelled sadness. “As I have listened to you priests I will stop thinking and asking God questions that often makes me sad”, was gladly expressed by a sister at Ortese Camp. True, “The crest and the crowning of all good, life’s final star, is brotherhood”, says J. Maurus. Thus, for continued commitment to brotherhood, pastoral and humanitarian aid to the displaced communities, Bishop Anagbe in a letter dated Friday 7th March, 2025 and expressing full confidence in the priest’s “ability to carryout the duty with grace, empathy and a heart full of love” appointed Revd Father Simeon Shima MAYANGE as Chaplain to the IDP Camps within the Diocese of Makurdi. In the words of Dr Mark Shenge, “I thank the Bishop for this major milestone. The Church is for us and with us in good and bad times.”
It will not be misleading to say that having a good mind is not enough. The main thing is to use it well. We (all men and women of goodwill) joining Bishop Wilfred Chikpa ANAGBE to assist the IDPs, poor and marginalized members of the society is using our minds well. Beside his constant advocacy for peace and a violence-free society and good life for all, Bishop Anagbe is offering Scholarship to over two hundred (200) IDP children in different schools while at the same time helping them in the area of skill acquisition during holidays. He believes: “if we do not take these children to school, we would destroy their future and the future of this region.” Our lives make meaning and rescue others from shambles when we lovingly and consciously make transition from community for myself to that of myself for the community. As J. Maurus will passionately invite, it is all about making an effort to assist if you are in a position to contribute to the development of others or help them to do something they cannot accomplish on their own.
Giving the existence of many negativities in our contemporary society like herdsmen attacks and many displaced persons alongside poverty and hunger, Revd Father Emmanuel UKATA, CMF holds that “society is challenged to ignore the ripples of exclusivism, superiority, unchecked collectivism, and individualism.” A better alternative to these is solidarity and the common good.
We thank immensely Bishop Wilfred Chikpa ANAGBE for his love and sacrifices. We appreciate Bishop Isaac DUGU who is also doing much for the IDPs in Katsina-Ala Diocese. God bless all men and women of goodwill whose life and contributions are alleviating the plight of many poor, marginalised, oppressed and suppressed members of the society. Let us not deny or be indifferent to the existence of these shameful realities but rise up to the challenges to make society a home for all. A soul saved is thousands saved.
Revd Father Patrick Tor YUGH
Chronicler, Makurdi Diocese.
Sun 09.03.2025.
