By PJ Usanga
In a day marked by both celebration and reflection, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria arrived in Auchi for their second plenary assembly of 2024. The arrival followed the funeral Mass of the Emeritus Archbishop of Benin, Most Rev. Patrick Ebosele Ekpu, held at the Holy Cross Cathedral in Benin City on Thursday, August 22, 2024.
During the funeral Mass, the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, who presided over the Mass, extolled Archbishop Ekpuโs numerous contributions. He noted the late Archbishop’s visionary leadership, which is evident in the establishment of 80 parishes and the erection of the dioceses of Auchi and Uromi, among other significant pastoral achievements.
The CBCN plenary assembly, which began with the bishops arrival on Thursday, August 22, will officially open with a Mass at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Auchi on Sunday, August 25. This will be followed by the general opening ceremonies at Uyi Grands Hall, Auchi.
The episcopal assembly will bring together over 80 Catholic bishops from across Nigeria and will witness a range of activities including the Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, engagement with the laity, and various discussion sessions. The plenary meeting will conclude with a Closing Mass and the reading of the communiquรฉ on Thursday, August 29, with departures scheduled for Friday, August 30.
The biannual CBCN plenary serves as a crucial forum for the bishops to address and deliberate on significant issues affecting the Church and society.
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