Nigerian community in Rome Holds Prayer for Nigeria, charged to support the birth of a New Nigeria
Nigerians living in Rome have been charged to see themselves as stakeholders towards the realisation of the dream of a New Nigeria.
The call was made by Very Rev. Fr. Michael Ademola Odubela, OSJ, in his reflection shared with members of the Nigerian community at a prayer session on Saturday, November 26, 2022, at the Chiesa di Sant' Anna, Vatican City.
The community assembled in union to seek God's intervention for radical healing and positive transformation of Nigeria from the current ills bedevilling the country namely; bad leadership, corruption, division, insecurity, incessant shedding of blood and waste of life, mutual suspicion, exploitation as well as abuse of power and office.
Reflecting on the Gospel passage according to Luke 18.36-43, Fr. Odubela stressed on the need to pray, noting that the value of prayer can never be overemphasized in the quest for for a new Nigeria. He noted however, that since faith works with good works, "all hands must be on deck if we truly desire to see the Nigeria we dream of, especially in the wake of the forthcoming general elections."
He thus challenged all members of the community to awaken in themselves "the moral, social and political responsibility that raises a new consciousness that the new Nigeria we all desire must be a concrete effort and responsibility of all."
According him, "we all must encourage those who are of age to exercise their political franchise as a mark of obedience to the call to take part in the process of nation building since it is a strict obligation of all those who have the right, men and women, to participate in elections and whoever fails to do so either by indolence or indifference commits a grave sin in nature and mortal in force. They must not only vote but vote sincerely, listening to their conscience".
The prayer session was led by Francis Cardinal Arinze and featured Rosary Procession from La Chiesa di Santa Maria in via Traspontina to L'Obelisco di San Pietro, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Intercessions and Benediction at Sant'Anna. Apart from the priests, Religious and Seminarians, the Nigerian Ambassador to the Vatican, Representative of the Nigerian Ambassador to Italy, lay Nigerians living in Rome and many others were in attendance.
By Fr. Joseph Kumah Timothy, Immediate Past Secretary of the Catholic Bishop of Lafia, Nasarawa State
More photos below.
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