By Alice Aladi Jonah
Recently, the entire members of the Catholic Diocese of Minna, led by the Bishop, Most Rev. Dr. Martin Igwemezie Uzoukwu, together with his Auxiliary, Most Rev. Dr. Sylvester Luka Gopep, gathered at St. Michael’s Catholic Cathedral Minna, to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Diocese. Bishop Uzoukwu going down memory lane, traced the history of the Diocese to the early missionaries led by Rev. Fr. Leon Bourge, SMA, who brought the seed of Catholic Faith to the people in Baro in 1911. The visit of the early missionaries to Baro and environs spread forth many branches to various communities and villages through efforts that could be felt in all the Churches spread across the Diocese. The Chief Shepherd of the Diocese noted that the celebration helps us to appreciate the great works of the missionaries who made huge impacts and life changing decisions and sacrifices which made the indigenous Christians accept the new teaching brought by the Missionaries.
The early missionaries instituted Churches, schools, clinics and community outreaches through which the people felt their impacts. In 1964, the Church in Minna was erected under the guidance of Most Rev. Joseph Fitzgibbon, SPS, who handed over the baton to Most Rev. Christopher Abba, who became the first Bishop of the newly erected Catholic Diocese of Minna in 1973. Most significantly, Bishop Abba ordained the first indigenous Priest of the Diocese, Rev. Fr. Clement Mallam in 1976.
The evangelical journey continued to grow till 1996 when Bishop Abba, upon his transfer to Yola Diocese handed over the leadership of the Diocese to Most Rev. Dr. Martin Igwuemezie Uzoukwu, the second Bishop of Minna Diocese, who, together with his Auxiliary, Most Rev. Dr. Luka Sylvester Gopep, have taken Minna Diocese to greater height. Today, the Diocese has given birth to many indigenous Priests and Parishes across Niger State. “The celebration most importantly, gives us the courage, strength and confidence we need to build the Minna Diocese of tomorrow that will do justice to the vision of the missionaries and the courageous decisions of the indigenous peoples who followed them to become Catholics. What we received from the Minna Diocese of yesterday, we strive to uphold and develop in Minna Diocese of Today.” Bishop Uzoukwu said.
Speaking on the significance of the celebration of Minna at fifty, Auxiliary Bishop Luka Sylvester Gopep said it avails us the opportunity to see where we are coming from, where we are now and helps us to plan on where we are going. It is to show gratitude and thanksgiving to God for being with us all these years, and also to those who started it, those who built it and those who are still holding unto it.
According to the Auxiliary Bishop, one of the ways to mark the Golden Jubilee of the Diocese was to have a befitting pastoral center which started last year. He commended the efforts of the people who saw the need for the center and have contributed immensely towards the building. For the younger generation Bishop Gopep said, “they should be involved in the activities of the Church, they should be involved in the leadership of the Church, knowing fully well that we are going to handover to them. So they should not sit down and just be looking but they should actively be involved. ”
Also speaking on the occasion, the Judicial Vicar of the Diocese, Very Rev. Fr. Mathias Bulus Makama, who was also the Chairman of the Planning Committee reiterated the significance of the celebration of Golden Jubilee biblically in Leviticus 25:8. He noted that the jubilee is a year of celebration, a year of thanksgiving which signifies the progress that the Diocese has made through the white and indigenous Missionaries, Diocesan Priests, the Religious and Lay Faithful in the past fifty years, which stands for the growth and development of the Church and salvation of the people since the erection of the Catholic Diocese of Minna.
According to Fr. Makama, the Diocese has held onto the mandate, remained focused and did not divert attention nor give up on the mandate and responsibility that was given to them as a particular Church. He added that fifty years as a Diocese is a sign of more maturity, growth and development and that the Diocese is on the tract towards doing what it was established for, to bring salvation to men and women, which has manifested educationally, spiritually, morally, socially and also through empowerment to make them better.
He enjoined all and sundry to hold on tenaciously to the unique tradition of the Catholic Faith and pass it on to the children and to support the Church by remaining obedient and docile to the Church. “As Catholics, we must continue to keep the Church going by supporting the Church, by sacrificing, by being generous to the Church, by being patriotic members of the Church and ensuring that we work out opportunities for Catholics. Catholics must always live out their Catholic faith, not to be ashamed but be proud of their faith and say the Angelus, the Rosary and other prayers without shame but be proud of their faith and teach their children in order to keep the Church going. It is our responsibility to carry each other along, pray for the Church, encourage one another, correct one another in love, remain united and forge on together as we look up to Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith”. He added.
The Celebration kick started at the Parish level which culminated with tree planting of Minna Diocesan Golden Jubilee Garden in all Parishes that make up Minna Diocese. The Deanery phase of the Celebration had Bishops going round the nine Deaneries to celebrate with Christ’s faithful in their Deaneries during which awards were given to some men and women.
Highlight of the occasion was the lunching of the book titled, “Catholic Diocese of Minna Yesterday Today and Tomorrow” coauthored by Rev. Fr. Dr. Samuel P. Gwimi and Rev. Fr. Dr. Victor Jamahh Usman, to support the ongoing pastoral center which will cater for the need of the people. The Diocesan phase award will be given on 30th December, 2023 during the Diaconate Ordination which is scheduled as part of the Golden Jubilee Celebration to honor the late Bishop Christopher ABBA who was consecrated a Bishop on the said date.
Also commenting on the event, the Minna Diocesan Laity Council President, Arc. Julius James Umaru said the Laity has been meeting at Parish, Deanery and Diocesan levels. They attend National meetings where they have cross pollination of ideas from other Dioceses in order to make Minna Diocese better. “We are going to be having Diaconate ordination and awards on the 30th of December to say ‘thank you’ to a lot of Laity and other people that worked tirelessly to see that Minna Diocese is where it is today”. He said.
Arc. Umaru noted that the Laity always support the Bishops and Priests in moving the Diocese forward. Without the Laity there is no Church, therefore the Laity has taken its rightful position, and is aware of their responsibilities to the Church, and willing to support the programs of the Church at all times. This was manifested in the massive turn up of the Laity at the just concluded celebration of Minna Diocese at fifty. On his part, he is completing the projects of his predecessor Amb. Mrs. Augusta Opokwu while also initiating new ones, all in a bid to move the Diocese forward. For the younger generation, he said the youth are the integral part of the Church and if we do not encourage them, the Church has no future.
He congratulated the Bishops, Priests, Religious and Laity on the attainment of fifty years of the Diocese, adding that he is proud to be the President of the Laity. He prayed for long life for the Diocese and the people. The celebration was well attended by the Clergy and Laity who gathered in their various colourful regalia and people from all walks of life.
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