By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye,
The Catholic Community in Warri, Delta State, on Sunday, November 24, joined their counterparts across Nigeria to observe and celebrate the feast of Christ the Universal King.
The celebration which climaxed at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Warri, saw the Warri Diocesan Catholic faithful, both men and women, young and old, as well as students and children, take to the major roads and streets of the oil city, proclaiming Christ as the King of the universe.
The Feast of Christ the King, also known as Corpus Christi, is a Catholic Christian denomination liturgical solemnity, celebrating the real presence of the body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, in the elements of the Eucharist.
Countries like Austria, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Panama, observe the feast as a public holiday.
In a brief homily to commemorate the event, the Catholic Bishop of Warri Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. John Oke’Oghene Afareha, called on Catholics across the diocese of Warri not to make the celebration a mere routine exercise, but a spiritual uplift that would bring them closer to God. He said the feast was established by Pope Pius XI in response to the excesses of Marxism and secular humanism which ought to erased the name of Jesus Christ from human memory. He said Jesus Christ is above all other kings and He alone is our King.
He adds that, “Our exercise is not a mere show but an expression of love which we must exhibit in every area of our life”.
Most Rev. Afareha told the congregation to always live a Christ-like life and keep his commandments at all times. He prayed that the celebration would bring joy and happiness to various homes in need of it.
On his part, Director of Social Communications, Warri Diocese, Very Rev. Fr. Benedict Ukutegbe Ph.D, who is also the Cathedral Administrator, called on Christians to think more about eternity.
At the Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Ughelli, the parish priest, Very Rev. Fr. Godwin Orudje charged Christians to ensure they take Jesus as their king and follow him everyday. He said, “if you know Jesus, if you accept him as your king, you will be proud to show him to the world”. He noted that dancing and singing when you have not accepted Christ as your personal king is futile.
While at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Iwhrekpokpo Ughelli, the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Isaac Ikpere, CSs.R urged parishioners to have faith in the exercise as Jesus Christ is truly the king of kings.
At St. Michael parish DSC, and St. Gabriel also in DSC, the joy of proclaiming Christ as the King of the universe was so radiant in the faces of parishioners as they sing and dance to the glory of God with their parish priests, Rev. Fr’s. Ezekiel Awore and Stephen Okoro blessing the DSC community with the body of Christ.
Across the diocese of Warri, singing and dancing along the streets by all the parishes in the Diocese formed the highpoint of the feast.