“Material means must never obscure supernatural dimension of Church”: Nuncio in Nigeria

Love is also crucial for the growth of the Church, Archbishop Filipazzi said. The Church “truly grows if her members grow in their response to the love with which God loves us, the love He instills in our hearts and of which we must be imitators,” the Italian-born Archbishop explained.

Reflecting further on St. Paul VI’s Apostolic Letter, the Apostolic Nuncio said that charity “induces the Church to concern herself constantly about the true temporal welfare of men”.

The Church has the mission to foster “eternal communion with God” among her members, the Nuncio said. 

“Woe if the Church, under the pretext of being more involved and effective in promoting the good of humanity, does not help everyone to remember and work to achieve the true purpose of human life, which is eternal communion with God,” he said, making reference to the Apostolic Letter, Creed of the People of God.

Archbishop Filipazzi emphasized, “True growth of the Church occurs when the eternal and earthly dimensions are not opposed and mutually excluded but are kept connected and interdependent, knowing that the primacy always belongs to God and eternal life.”

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Addressing himself to the newly ordained Bishop who had been appointed on April 12, the Apostolic Nuncio urged him to foster a spiritual bond with the people of God who will be under his pastoral care.

The vision for a spiritual bond, the Nuncio said, “must always accompany Bishop Bakeni in his ministry; but it must also always be the vision with which the Priests and faithful relate to him.”

There is need for clarity “about how the Church grows in the world,” Archbishop Filipazzi said, adding that “the danger of misunderstanding the Bishop and his mission, considering him a political leader … perhaps forgetting that he brings above all spiritual and eternal goods, will be avoided.”

The Apostolic Nuncio expressed optimism that under the guidance of Bishop Oliver Dashe Doeme, the Diocese of Maiduguri will “continue to grow in Christian life and make the Church grow in this part of Nigeria.”

“The new Bishop and all the members of the Diocese of Maiduguri should look at each other with the eyes of Jesus,” Archbishop Filipazzi said in his July 7 homily.

Meanwhile, in a separate message posted on his Facebook page, Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama of Abuja Archdiocese congratulated the newly ordained Bishop.

“Hearty congratulations Bishop Bakeni, on your Episcopal Ordination today, July 7 2022, as the Auxiliary Bishop of Maiduguri Diocese,” Archbishop Kaigama said.

The Nigerian Archbishop added, “Bishop Oliver Doeme is no doubt gratefully happy to receive an additional hand to continue piloting the affairs of a suffering but dynamic and faith-filled Diocese. Continue to experience God's abundant blessings.”

Born in March 1975 in the Diocese of Maiduguri, the newly ordained Auxiliary Bishop started his Priestly studies in 1993 with Philosophy at Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Makurdi Diocese. 

He studied Theology at St. Augustine's Major Seminary in the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos, and was ordained a Priest for the Diocese of Maiduguri in August 2002.

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Bishop Bakeni will assist 61-year-old Bishop Dashe in shepherding the people of God in the 132,000 square kilometer Diocese with an estimated population of 187,422 Catholics, according to 2019 statistics.

Established in June 1953 as the Prefecture Apostolic of Maiduguri, the Nigerian Episcopal See was elevated to a Diocese in June 1966. It is one of the five suffragan Dioceses of the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos. 

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.