“We are encouraged to start the opening prayer during meetings and gatherings by first singing the Veni Creator Spiritus (Come Holy Ghost) in Latin especially in convents, schools, and houses of Formation in order to preserve the heritage of our Church since1768 when the hymn was composed,” he said.
Archbishop Nkea also encouraged the people of God under his pastoral care to utilize the prayer “Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of the Faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Thy Love…” as the opening prayer during family prayers, small groups, and in school settings before classes commence.
He also directed that Novena to the Holy Spirit be prayed on the first nine days of every month to tap abundantly from the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit which are; Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and the Fear of the Lord.
“We shall dedicate each month of the Year to putting into practice one fruit of the Holy Spirit so that by December 2024, we should have gone through all the twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit,” he said.
He added, “We shall always begin a new month by celebrating a Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit during which an appropriate homily shall be given explaining the fruit of the Holy Spirit that would be the central point for meditation and action for the month as well as to kick-start the Novena to the Holy Spirit.”
Under the intellectual dimension, some Priests in the Diocese will be tasked with preparing and delivering talks on selected topics touching on the Holy Spirit. Additionally, all Christian doctrine will center on the Holy Spirit throughout the year.
Archbishop Nkea said that there will be mini congresses on the Holy Spirit that will begin from the civil administrative divisions that form the Archdiocese, adding that the congresses shall either begin with or end with a crusade.
In his pastoral letter, the 57-year-old Archbishop directed that the social dimension of the celebration will involve exploring various avenues of fostering the fruits of the holy spirit in parishes starting with the family.
He said the focus will then shift to the communities to assess how the fruits can be of impact especially when it comes to helping the poor, the destitute, and the prisoners among other needy and vulnerable groups.
Archbishop Nkea said that the pastoral dimension of the yearlong celebration will “pay particular attention to the functioning of our Small Christian Communities (SCCs)” which he said is “the Church in the neighborhood.”
