By Rachel Kogi, CSN Media
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) today, 7 March 2022, being the second day of the first 2022 plenary meeting, unveiled the new Book of the Prayer of the Faithful liturgical use in the Catholic Church in Nigeria.
Presenting the book to the Bishops, Priests, Religious and lay faithful of the Church at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), the CBCN President, His Grace Augustine Obiora Akubeze, commended the initiative to provide “a handbook which contains the choice prayers, specially arranged to serve at various occasions of the Church, such as Sundays, Feasts and Solemnities as well as other needs of the Church.”
The President observed that “for many years, there was an earnest desire for a comprehensive and well-arranged Liturgical Book of the Prayer of the Faithful to express the petitions of members of Christ’s faithful in the Church in Nigeria.” He added that the book will help worshippers to pray more meaningfully in a dignified, devout and attentive manner.
The Director of Pastoral Affairs, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo, in his remark, explained that the Church in Nigeria has depended on Books of the Prayers of the Faithful published by Europe and America for many decades, and though the Books have served well, they sometimes did not reflect the reality of Nigeria, which called for the need to produce one contextual to Nigeria. He introduced the various sections of the book, extolling the fine quality of the finishing of the book and its hard cover. He noted that the book contains 254 pages with great aesthetic value enhanced by the creamish colour of the inside pages.