After many years troubles, wars, rancour and disunity, the Apostolic Administrator of Ahiara diocese, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji has declared that diocese is back on its feet and booming with growing faith.
He gave the disclosure at St. Brigid Catholic Church, Nnarambia Ahiara Mbaise during the Second Plenary of the Arch-diocesan/diocesan and Religious Directors of Communication, which kicked off with a Eucharistic celebration.
In his homily, Bishop Ugorji affirmed that when the faithful pray “Thy Kingdom Come”, in the Lord’s Prayer, they express the yearning for the realisation of God’s Kingdom on Earth through, Justice and Peace, but regretted that the people of God in Nigeria are not doing enough to make this yearning a reality. He said; “According to a United Nation’s Report, 80% of the Nation’s Oil Wealth accrued to Nation is wasted on Corruption. Poverty has continued to rise in Nigeria with 77 million people living in absolute poverty. Despite the Nation’s growing resources, Nigeria has taken over many Countries in being poorest of Nations.”
He thanked God for the return of Peace in Ahiara diocese and prayed lasting peace and sustainability.
Stressing the role of the Social Communications in every aspect of the Church in terms of publicity, the apostolic administrator who is also Bishop of Umuahia diocese stressed that the media is a powerdul tool of evangelization. Hecharged the media to join hands in enlightening the electorates in making wise choices as the 2019 general election approaches.
According to him, the Social Communicators should not be selfish with communicating only things that concern the Church, rather they should afford the Church the opportunity to be enlightened on issues that concerns them in the Society, especially deploring their digital knowledge to counter the breakdown of family life currently ravaged by the digital age and globalized perverse Social Communication.
In a remark, the Ahiara diocesan director of Communications, Rev. Fr. Innocent Ebere Uwa expressed gratitude to God for bringing peace to Ahiara diocese and the opportunity to host the entire Church in Nigeria through the directors of Communication in the whole dioceses, including those who work in both the Electronic and Print Media.
He noted that the entire Church in Nigeria have come to be in solidarity with Ahiara diocese to show that the Church is one in faith.
The priest thanked God for the blessing of the diocese with a vibrant Administrator who has been ordaining deacons and embarking on pastoral visits to parishes, making faith and life rebound, as well as spreading happiness.
Also speaking, the former Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs who is also a member of board of directors of Social Communication in Ahiara Diocese, Prof. Viola Adaku Onwuliri expressed gratitude to God for nacent peace and for coming back both Spiritual, Religious and other activities that the diocese is known for.
Mrs. Onwuliri described the event as unprecedented because when the Bishop conscripted them in the board of directors of Social Communications of Ahiara Diocese, barely a month ago, the board members told themselves that it is an opportunity to re-write the story of Ahiara diocese, and recreate whatever impression that was out there.
The occasion featured Abigbo Mbaise, which was also enjoyed by Catholic Men and Women Organisation of the Diocese clad in their Uniform, after which the Priests and Religious were left alone to complete other sessions of the Plenary.