Don’t Be “passive consumers of spiritual goods”: Catholic Archbishop in Nigeria

Like John the Baptist “brought people to repentance, baptized them and denounced evil such as Herod marrying his brother’s wife,” Archbishop Kaigama said, “We too are required to show people the way of salvation; bring others to know Christ.”

He cautioned Nigerians against falsehood, pride, unhealthy rivalry, and selfish ambitions, saying that such vices blind the world, making it “seem to be in darkness”.

The Archbishop of Abuja Archdiocese went on to decry the increase in cases of insecurity in Africa’s most populous nation, the latest being the January 15 attack on Sts. Peter and Paul Kaffin Koro Parish of the Catholic Diocese of Minna that resulted in the death of the Parish Priest.

The Nigerian Catholic Diocese announced the killing of Fr. Issac Achi in a message that was obtained by ACI Africa on January 15.

“It is on a sad note that we announce the death of Very Rev.  Fr. Issac Achi of the Catholic Diocese of Minna,” the Diocese said, adding that Fr. Achi’s Assistant, Fr. Collins Omeh, survived the attack, and had been hospitalized “in critical condition”.

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Fr. Achi “was shot dead by Bandits that attacked the Parish in the early hours of today,” the message from Minna Diocese indicated, adding, “Please, remember Minna Diocese in your Prayers.”

In his January 15 homily, Archbishop Kaigama encouraged Nigerians to get solace and strength in Jesus Christ even as the kidnapping and killing continue escalating in the West African nation.

“While we continue to beg those who target to kill Priests and other innocent victims to stop these atrocities in the name of God, as Christians, Jesus the innocent suffering Lamb of God should be our source of strength and comfort,” he said, making reference to the identity of Jesus that John the Baptist announced, “the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”.

The 64-year-old Nigerian Archbishop who started his Episcopal Ministry in February 1995 as Bishop of Nigeria’s Jalingo Diocese said that the increased cases of insecurity in Nigeria is a call for Christians to renew “our commitment to our personal calling to be more faithful witnesses to the Lamb of God.”

He also reflected on the general elections scheduled for February 25 and urged the electorate to be careful in their decisions.

“As we gradually get closer to Nigeria’s general elections, the identity of every Christian as the light of Christ is being put to the test,” Archbishop Kaigama said, and added, Christians “need to be careful that no shadow of ourselves, our personal ambitions, our self-seeking, clouds our witness to the light of Christ.

He cautioned the Nigerian electorate against selling their votes, saying, “Avoid the Esau-syndrome, who mortgaged his birthright over a plate of pottage; avoid the way of Judas Iscariot, who sold His Master for the price of a slave.”

“Avoid selfish interests as the crowds who chose the criminal Barabbas to be released and rather have Jesus crucified,” the Nigerian Archbishop said in his January 15 homily.

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.