Onaiyekan lays foundation for N500m, 2,200 capacity church
NAN-H-12
Confirmation
By Cecilia Ologunagba
Abuja, July 2, 2017 (NAN) The Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, on Sunday laid foundation of the 2,000 capacity new church, Abuja, and urged Christians to be generous and live according to the teachings of Christ.
Onaiyekan made the call in his homily at a Mass, the Sacrament of Confirmation and foundation laying at Our Lady of Perpertual Help Parish, Gwarinpa II on Sunday in Abuja.
He said that God had sent Christmas out to be generous in spite of the economic challenges.
“I know there is a risk in being generous; some have even turned themselves to be professional beggars, don’t be discouraged but continue to be generous.
“Some people may even use your generosity against you, never mind; God will continue to protect you and reward your goodness,’’ he said.
Onaiyekan also administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 63 Catholic Candidates at Lady of Perpertual Help Parish, Gwarinpa II, Abuja.
The cleric told the candidates that the sacrament would make them soldiers of Christ and also make them bold to preach the goodnews through the power of the Holy Spirit.
According to Catholic teaching, the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace.
For by the sacrament of Confirmation, (the baptised) are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with special strength of the Holy Spirit.
Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the Christian faith by words and deeds.
The Cardinal urged the candidates to embrace holiness and to live good Christian life worthy of spreading the goodnews of Christ.
“Christ having died and risen will never die again, death no longer has any power over Him so also sins and darkness will never have power over you again,’’ he said.
According to him, beyond this ordinary life, there is something better which is eternal life and encouraged them to live with eternity in view.
Earlier, the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr Dominic Isemin presented the 63 candidates to Onaiyekan for the sacrament of confirmation.
Some of the confirmed candidates expressed their joy for receiving the sacrament and promised to be good Christians.
Michael Okere said“ I am happy that I am a confirmed Catholic today; we were told that we are now soldiers of Christ, so I am ready to defend my faith by preaching the gospel.
“The Holy Spirit will help me to contribute my gifts to the building of the church,’’ he said.
Also Afiniki Dakuk said she would bring her children in a godly manner and also train them in the faith of the church.
For Francis Nwatu, he asked God for the grace to love and serve Him all the days of his life.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Building Committee, Mr Nwachukwu Uzo said the new church project was designed to take an average of 2,200 people.
Uzo said that it would have a gallery, a hall and numerous offices for various purposes.
Also, Mr Malachy Gaiya, a member of the building Committee said the new church when completed would have three floors, adding that the design was unique.
“It will have the ground floor which will have multi-purpose hall, the second floor will be a gallery while the first flour will be the church hall,’’ Gaiya said.
According to him, the building is proposed to cost N500 million but could still be reviewed as the project proceeds.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a fundraising was done to support the building of the Church which was inaugurated in 2012. (NAN)
CIA/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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