The Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Kaduna state, Northwestern Nigeria, has commenced special prayers following the desecration and stealing of sacred species at Saint Luke’s Catholic Church, Safio, Kaura Local Government Area of the state.
The Diocesan Chancellor of Kafanchan, Rev. Fr. Dr. Jacob Shanet, disclosed that a parishioner of the said Church, one Mr. Timothy Nicaf, entered the Church for Sunday Mass in the early hours of 25 January 2926 and found that the Tabernacle had been forcibly opened and the sacred species within had been scattered and stolen.
He decried that the act constitutes a sacrilegious profanation of what is consecrated to God, according to Canon 1367 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law.
The letter of appeal addressed to the people of God reads in part, “with profound sorrow and pastoral worry, we write to inform you of a most grievous sacrilege committed against the Most Holy Eucharist on Sunday (25/01/2026) in Saint Luke’s Catholicpar Church, Safio, Kaura LGA of Kaduna State, Nigeria.
“A parishioner of the said Church, Mr. Timothy Nicaf, entered the Church for Sunday Mass in the early hours of the said day, and found that the Tabernacle had been forcibly opened and the Sacred Species within had been scattered and stolen.”
The statement noted that the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Chrysostom Yangba, SMA, confirmed the unfortunate incident.
The development came after such an unfortunate situation had already occurred in one of our Churches, “the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Unguwar/Rimi, Bajju, on 12 May 2025.
“This act constitutes a sacrilegium – the profanation of what is consecrated to God. Canon 1367 of the 1983 Code of Canon Latu provides that: ‘A person who throws away the consecrated species or takes or retains them for a sacrilegious purpose incurs a latae sententia excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See,’ Referring to this Canon and Sacred Tradition, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) affirms: To desecrate the Sacred Species, or to steal them, is a gravely sacrilegious act” (CCC,2120).
The statement implied that “such an act establishes a deep wound to the general body of Christ, the Church, and accordingly calls for a united response of reparation and fervent intercession.”
The Diocese directed that: “All priests of/in the Diocese of Kafanchan are to offer a Mass of Reparation on Friday, January 3oth, 2026. It must be offered with the intention of making amends for this sacrilege and imploring the mercy of God upon those responsible.
“All parishes, religious houses, and faithful are urged to actively participate in acts of preparation throughout the week.
“These may include: Eucharistic Adoration, with particular attention to silence and reverence. The Rosary, invoking the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of the Church and St. Luke, the Patron Saint of the Church in question.
“The chaplet of Divine Mercy, offered for the conversion of those who committed this offence.”
The Church maintained that both public and private prayers be said for the safe and reverent return of the sacred.
“Species, should they remain intact. Let this severe wrongdoing that carries heavy consequences arouse in us a renewed reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist, which the Second Vatican Council describes as the source and summit of the Christian life” (Lumen Gentium, 11).”
“We entrust our supplications to the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and pray that, through this trial, hearts may return to God and that the love for the Holy. Eucharist may be deepened in our Diocese and throughout the world. With you in sorrow and hope.”
