The Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Dr. Ignatius Kaigama, has appealed to the government to support the Church’s missionary and humanitarian endeavours to reach out to those at the margins of society.
Archbishop Kaigam, who made the call during the administration of the Sacraments of Confirmation to 30 children and First Holy Communion to 93 children from Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Christ the King Catholic Church in Wassa, said, “I pray our political authorities will support the Church in reaching those whom the Government is unable to reach.”
“Many of these children, aged between 10 and 15, were born in the IDP camp”
The prelate who disclosed that “Most of those who received the Sacraments are children of IDP parents (mostly from Borno State)” further revealed that “Many of these children, aged between 10 and 15, were born in the IDP camp, as is the case in many other IDP camps.”
Describing how he felt when he visited the community, the former Archbishop of Jos said, “This evening, the IDPs taught me more than I taught them, gave me more than I gave them. They demonstrated what it means to be content and grateful to God, no matter how difficult or painful one’s circumstances may be.”
Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama administers the sacrament of confirmation.
Delivering his homily at the outstation of St. Paul Sauka Wassa, Apo District, Abuja, he recalled that the last time he officially paid a pastoral visit to the camp and conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation was in 2023.
He commended the efforts of the Priest-in-charge, Fr. Stephen Mesheda, whom he described as an “indefatigable priest” that “fully identified himself with the lives and struggles of the IDPs.”
The Archbishop disclosed that the priest had informed him about a “small church serving the IDPs, [which] also functioned as a classroom in that particular camp – Four primary classes, Primary One, Two, Three, and Four, each occupied a corner of the small Church.”
The Catholic Women Organisation (CWO), in the company of the Priest-in-charge, gave the Archbishop a rousing welcome.
“Despite these difficult circumstances, the children were doing well”
However, he was surprised that “despite these difficult circumstances, the children were doing well,” adding that he was surprised to see that the support he gave was judiciously used.
“Deeply moved by the reality that displaced persons could be left to fend for themselves in this way, I offered support to construct a block of four cement classrooms to replace the mud structure they had begun building,” he narrated.
The Nigerian leader, known as a peace and dialogue promoter, further detailed that “Today, during my visit, I went to inspect the completed classrooms. To my great surprise and chagrin, the priest informed me that each of the four classrooms now accommodates two classes. For example, Primary Three and Primary Four share the same classroom. One class faces one direction, while the other class faces the opposite direction!
Like the Good Shepherd who said, “Let the little children come to me,” the Archbishop engages a little boy in a conversation.
“I asked how they managed such an arrangement. He explained that when the teacher of one class is giving a lesson, the other teacher keeps his pupils occupied with written assignments. Once it is time for the second class to receive instruction, the roles are reversed. The remaining classrooms operate in the same manner, with each room serving two different classes! According to the priest, this is the only way to accommodate the children, who would otherwise be denied the opportunity of receiving an education.”
“Shocked to the bone marrow by what I witnessed, I announced a donation of three Million Naira”
In imitation of Jesus the Good Shepherd, the shepherd of God’s flock in Abuja who donated to support the completion of the school project, admired the people’s reaction.
“Shocked to the bone marrow by what I witnessed, I announced a donation of money, the three Million Naira I had received earlier today, to purchase cement and blocks for the foundation of another block of four classrooms.
“The IDPs erupted with joy and expressed profound gratitude when I made the announcement. I pray that God will raise more Good Samaritans to support this noble cause.
“Although I was very saddened by what I saw, the zeal, enthusiasm and unbridled joy of the IDPs gave me more than I gave them. At the end of the Mass, they insisted on expressing their gratitude by taking up a collection to give me. Various church societies also presented me with envelopes containing monetary gifts,” he noted.
The priest-in-charge, Fr. Stephen Meshed, with Archbishop Kaigama and those who received the sacraments.
Conclusion
He used the occasion to express appreciation to the parishioners “for their extraordinary generosity” while assuring, “I would use their donations to buy fuel for my vehicle so that I could continue reaching other IDPS living in different locations.”
Archbishop Kaigama lauded the Church’s untiring effort in ministering to the poor of the poorest who are often forgotten by the society.
“Despite her very limited resources, the Catholic Church will continue to do her best to serve the disadvantaged, the displaced, and those who have been forgotten on the peripheries,” he underlined.
