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Let’s Work Towards Nigeria’s Healing, “wounded by corruption, parochialism, godfatherism”: Archbishop on Pentecost Feast

Credit: Abuja Archdiocese

God’s gift of the Holy Spirit celebrated on Pentecost Sunday empowers the disciples of Jesus Christ to live a virtuous life that pays keen attention to the needs of the “marginalized” and the “common good”, Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama of Nigeria’s Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja has said.

In a text of his Pentecost Sunday homily, which he published on his Facebook wall on May 19, Archbishop Kaigama calls upon Nigerians to recognize the role of the Holy Spirit in facilitating a collaborative approach “towards the healing” of the West African nation that he says is “wounded”. 

“During the challenges we face as a nation, the Holy Spirit calls us to be agents of reconciliation, peace, and justice, working together for the common good, advocating for the marginalized, and working towards the healing of our nation wounded by corruption, parochialism, injustice, favoritism, inequitable distribution of resources, godfatherism,” he says.

The Nigerian Catholic Archbishop says he finds it regrettable that “many in our country, sadly, cannot be filled with the Holy Spirit because we are ‘full’ of hatred, full of anger, full of resentment, full of self-importance, full of corruption, full of immorality, and violence.”

He expresses his spiritual solidarity with his compatriots, “especially” those with leadership roles at various levels.

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“I pray the Holy Spirit to transform the hearts of all Nigerians, especially, the hearts of our leaders, judges, security agents, legislators, civil servants, and many others,” Archbishop Kaigama says in the text of his homily during his pastoral visit to St. Pope John Paul II Pastoral Centre of his Metropolitan See. 

He recognizes the various gifts of the Holy Spirit, and implores, “May the Holy Spirit fill us with wisdom, courage, and compassion.”

“May we be united in our diversity as we strive to build a better and more just society for all,” Archbishop Kaigama further implores in his May 19 homily titled, “Come Holy Spirit! Transform and unify us.”

He calls upon Nigerians to invoke the Holy Spirit to guide them towards prophetic witness to truth and justice as part of their testimony to Gospel values.

“Let us not hesitate to ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen us and give us the courage to speak the truth, condemn injustice and corruption and boldly bear witness to the Gospel,” says the Local Ordinary of Nigeria’s Abuja Archdiocese since November 2019.

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Referring to the Second Reading of Pentecost Sunday, St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he says, “St. Paul emphasizes the unity that comes from the Holy Spirit, which impels us to work together for the common good of the Church and civil society.”

Alluding to the experience of the Apostles on Pentecost day, when they were united in languages that were clearly understood by others, Archbishop Kaigama says that God reversed the experience of the tower of Babel “with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles.”

“The Holy Spirit brought unity and expects us believers to witness by our words and actions in our homes, places of work and recreation, and even in politics and governance”, the 65-year-old Catholic Church leader, who started his Episcopal Ministry in April 1995 as Bishop of Nigeria’s Jalingo Diocese says.

Unfortunately, he laments, “many Christians are lukewarm, ignorant of the faith and Catholic teachings, indifferent, and are only seasonal Catholics.”

The Catholic Church leader urges the people of God in Africa’s most populous nation “to live as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit to be agents of transformation in the world, bringing hope, healing, and reconciliation.”

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Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.