As Catholics all over the world conclude the 2024 month of May devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja in an historical move, held the first-ever Archdiocesan Rosary procession in the metropolitan streets of the city of Abuja.
The prayer procession which had in attendance, the Archbishop of Abuja Archdiocese, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, the Auxiliary Bishop, Most Rev Anselm Umoren, the Emeritus Archbishop of Abuja, His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, priests, religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese, was commemorative of the consecration of the Archdiocese to the maternal patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Rosary procession started at the St. Gabriel Chaplaincy, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), and concluded with benediction at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral in Garki.
Archbishop Kaigama in his exhortation before the procession, admonished all present to pray for the grace to be good Catholics. He further appealed to all to pray for the youths, the country Nigeria, leaders at all levels and for the adherents of all religions in the world to imbibe the positive values of their respective religion.
The Prelate reminded all that just as God himself honoured Mary, the Church pays same honour to her and not worship. He explained that the carrying of the status for the procession is not symbolic of idolatry, but in reverence of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He also charged all to emulate her virtues of selfishness and self-giving, by leaving their comfort zone, and offering support to those in need.
In a related development, the Secretary General of CSN, Rev Fr Zachariah Samjumi, in his homily during the Mass at noon in commemoration of the feast of the visitation at the St Gabriel Chaplaincy, CSN, also emphasized that the Catholic Church honours the Blessed Virgin Mary because God himself honoured her, which is evident in the greeting of the Angel Gabriel: ” Hail Mary full of grace the lord is with you…”
Fr Samjumi also explained that the last day of May is given special prominence by the Catholic Church to honour the Blessed Virgin Mary in recognition of her significant place in the history of human salvation.
The month of May is one of the months in the year specially set-aside for a dedicated devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The month is characterised by special Marian devotions and celebrations in the Catholic Church in honour of Mary, the mother of God.
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