It is important to thank God and appreciate our benefactors – Bishop Kukah
By Rachel Kogi, CSN
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has re-echoed the importance of thanksgiving as a basis for appreciating God’s work and the inputs of benefactors in one’s life.
Saturday, October 29, 2022, while in ecstatic mood of celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Priestly Ordination of the Deputy Executive Secretary of Caritas Nigeria, Very Rev. Fr. Peter Babangida Audu, Bishop Kukah, in a remark during the Holy Mass at St. Gabriel Chaplaincy, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Abuja, reminded the faithful that “celebrations are important occasions to thank God and recognise those on whose shoulders we have stood.”
He noted that “on a day like this, mothers, fathers, aunties, teachers and all those who supported the celebrant’s growth in different ways are remembered,” adding that such persons “are largely always not around, either they have gone to the great beyond or are often too old to be part of the celebration.”
While congratulating Fr. Babangida on the milestone of 30 years in the Priesthood, the Bishop stressed the fact that “there is nothing that has happened in the life of any Priest that he can boast of how hard he worked to achieve it.”
With a focus on the theme, “I chose you,” the homilist, Executive Secretary of Caritas Nigeria, Very Rev. Fr. Uchechukwu Obodoechina, posited that “one very important aspect of Christianity which makes it unique, is the fact that it is God that chooses; it is God that seeks his own.”
He explained that having been chosen by God, Fr. Babangida has gone through the principles and contradictions of the Priesthood for 30 years and has remained faithful, hence the need for the celebration.
Fr. Obodoechina further corroborated Bishop Kukah’s point on celebrating predecessors, observing that “in celebrating the anniversary of priestly ordination, what comes to mind is the gallantry of the missionaries who laboured and toiled under very severe circumstances to bring the word of God to us.”
He went on to share the enormous burden that accompanies the priestly calling, noting that the priest is called to be all things to all people, which behoves that he commits his energy and resources to the care and salvation of a community which does not even belong to him.
In spite of the enormous responsibility on priests, the humanitarian expert recalled that the Priest is consoled with the reality that he is not working in vain; that even in his mistakes, God has not forgotten him, and will reward him.
Fr. Uche also identified the unique fraternity of the Catholic priesthood, a universal brotherhood that exists between Catholic priests, as a form of consolation to priests as they toil to save souls.
He called for prayers, not only for Fr. Babangida, but for all priests, for the grace to persevere in their vows.
The Holy Mass was followed by a reception at the CSN Resource Centre, which also featured a fundraising for Fr. Babangida’s pet project, to build a befitting school for his community in Kaduna State.
In a remark by the Secretary General of CSN, Very Rev. Fr. Zacharia Samjumi, who was represented by the Deputy Secretary General and Director of Pastoral Affairs, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo, he described Fr. Babangida as a polished man, ecclesiastic, thoughtful, easy going and reliable.
Also joined in the celebration were five Priest friends of Fr. Babangida from outside CSN, as well as his brothers from CSN, namely; the National Director of Social Communications, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Umoh, the National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS), Rev. Fr. Solomon Zaku, Director of Mission and Dialogue, Rev. Fr. Joseph Nomhwange, SMA, CBCN Secretary for Synod and Congresses, Rev. Fr. Nicholas Djebah, CBCN Secretary for Interreligious Dialogue, Rev. Fr. Lawrence Emehel, CBCN Secretary for Youth Animation and the Chairman, Local Organising Committee of the event, Rev. Fr. Boniface Idoko, Reverend Sisters, and staff of Caritas Nigeria and CSN.
