The Catholic Bishop of Abuja Archdiocese, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, last week held a Palm Sunday Mass at the Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Catherdal, Area 3, Garki, Abuja, followed by an interaction with media practitioners. He spoke on a wide-range of issues including the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; stay-at-home order by the federal government; the role of the church and the government in alleviating the suffering of the people among others. CHIZOBA OGBECHE was there and brings excerpts.
Closure of churches
The phenomenon of not being able to attend Mass and to receive the Holy Communion is not new. In the early history of the Church Christians suffered terrible persecutions and many died. Those alive could not assemble for Mass and so they resorted to hiding in the burial grounds (catacombs) where if possible they celebrated Mass secretly.
During the persecution in Ireland the Irish Catholics had to escape to the rocks to celebrate Masses. They could not participate at Mass safely in their Churches. Many priests and bishops were forced into hiding or exile.
Bishops and cardinals and priests imprisoned for years in Communist China had no chance of celebrating Mass. The Chinese underground Catholics even up to now hide in homes or any available space to celebrate Mass or to pray.
In Madagascar when the French missionaries were expelled, the Church continued to remain functional through the initiative of a few young men who kept the faith after the expulsion of missionaries during the French war with Madagascar. Even without the celebration of Mass they had spiritual communion and kept the Church going until after the return of the missionaries who found a flourishing Church.
On the Holy Week
The Holy Week which is the peak of our Lenten observance begins today with the Palm Sunday celebration. During this week we are going to be journeying with Jesus as he makes his way to Jerusalem and then to Calvary where He will pay the supreme sacrifice to save us from our sins and the sins of the whole world.
We, Catholics, are not used to an empty Church. Our Churches are known for being well crowded. I know that you who are watching or listening from home would have loved to be in Church today but that you cannot do so is not your fault.
I know those of you who hunger and thirst for the Holy Mass, to receive Jesus in the Holy Communion and adore him in the Blessed Sacrament.
However, remember that in the Eucharist we pray for the living, the dead, those who are present for the Mass, those far away like our brave soldiers in the North-east doing security work and now many of you who are at home watching or listening, either because you are sick or elderly or because you are obeying the restriction orders by the government to stay at home as a measure to curb the ravaging coronavirus (COVID-19).
We cry out to Jesus to save us from our sins and eternal death as well as the coronavirus. We are carrying a heavy cross in the world today. Our prayer is that as we come to the end of the forty days so shall we experience the end of the coronavirus.
We should continue to say the prayer of Pope Francis to Mary during the corona pandemic. Since this is the peak of the Lenten season, if we procrastinated, this is injury time. Do more: alms, prayer, fasting.
On lockdown
Government, apart from imposing understandable restrictions of movements in order to minimize the spread of the coronavirus must ensure that people don’t suffer lack of food, water, electricity and basic medical care.
Those entrusted with the responsibility to remedy this unfortunate situation must make judicious use of funds donated or provided by government and see to the adequate provision of medical equipment to hospitals and the safety and effectiveness of health workers.
Keeping people indoors for too long can have its unpleasant repercussions. Psychological support and spiritual and pastoral care must be available in some form or the other. Security agents must be understanding and gentle with people who are full of anxiety and fear. There must be no intimidation or extortion.
We, as a church, must sacrifice from the little we have in solidarity with those infected or affected as well as those who stay home with very little to survive on. The St. Vincent de Paul and the Justice and Peace department of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja are hereby being officially tasked to ensure that the little that the Archdiocese can afford is used to help the suffering
I had promised using the money I got during the recent Cathedraticum to support the building of the new cathedral, but considering the gravity of the situation of our people, I shall divert it along with other food items collected to support within our limits the people during this critical period.
I call on every Catholic including the clergy and the religious to make personal sacrifices. All men and women of goodwill should help with whatever they can. Let us act fast. No time to waste.
Compliance with lockdown
As the Holy Week begins Catholics should key into the mood. It’s a sober period and since people cannot move about freely due to the stay-at-home order and being patriotic citizens we must comply.
We get some Catholics and Christians who say who is the government to tell us what to do with our faith but we must apply reason to faith.
If there is a pandemic that will wipe all of us away and we insist that we must gather because God is greater than the government and so on then we are not obeying even the scriptures because we are told to obey constituted civil authorities.
And I beg Nigerians to realise that this is a passing moment, this is a crisis that will definitely pass with the aggression I see the federal government is trying to tackle it and even the global community is trying to tackle it I am sure we shall overcome.
Let them be at peace, whether you come to church or not the important thing is pray, the important thing is have a spiritual communion with you God and use your time creatively not to stay home quarrelling and fighting with the family and feeling bored, use the time very well praying and doing good work.
Impact of coronavirus pandemic
The disease has reduced us to one level. The mighty and small nations have all been reduced to the same level with all feeling the hit and unable to do much about it.
The pandemic has taught us that we must come together to conquer the ills of the society. All nations, big or small, developed and undeveloped, poor and rich, have seen that technology cannot do much. Everyone is running from pillar to post in search of safety.
Clearly, it is a new beginning for humanity. It means we must return to the golden rule of love and respect for one another. Above all, it has shown that God is on the throne and all must return to Him.
Even though it is a tragedy, this period is also a providential one in the sense that we are learning to trust God and rely on Him more than before.
God has the final word, not man, whether he is a president or a well-endowed scientist. Man cannot be omnipotent as God. If we served God partially, haphazardly or indifferently in the past, we must develop a much deeper spiritual communion in the solitude of our homes.
On the media
I appreciate the presence of media practitioners here from different media houses who are a great asset in fighting the spread of the coronavirus virus. They are our great bridge, getting relevant and authentic information to you and you can see how important their role is in linking us at this Eucharistic celebration here to you by bringing this Holy Mass to you either directly or through the news they will give about it later.
God bless and reward you media practitioners, just as we ask God’s blessings and reward on medical workers who are sacrificing their comfort and sometimes their lives to give professional help to the sick at this time.
