Religion
Christian Clerics join Muslims in Interfaith-Ramadan-Iftar Breakfast to Strengthen, peace, love, Tolerance in Nigeria
Some Christian scholars in Kaduna have joined their Muslim counterparts in breaking the fast in the spirit of Ramadan so as to strengthen religious tolerance, peace, love, forgiveness and better understanding among them.
Speaking during the Iftar breakfast, Leader of the team, General Overseer of Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Ministry, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna, Pastor Yohanna Buru, said for the past 11 years, he has been joining top Nigerian Islamic scholars in breaking interfaith Ramadan Iftar breakfast to promote religious tolerance across the 36 states of Nigeria, Niger Republic and other neighbouring countries.
Buru said the visitation is aimed at encouraging Christian-Muslim relationship in the state, to further strengthen peaceful co-existence and ties, religious tolerance, forgiveness among Nigerians, also to spread the message of Peace and unity to shun all forms of ethno-religious, political and regional differences.
Pastor Buru, was accompany by Reverend Paul and John Moses and other church members to the house of Mallam Rilwanu Abdullahi at Kakuri-Makera, Kaduna south.
They pointed out that Iftar gives them opportunity to promote interfaith activities and spread the message of peace and better understanding, so as to live in peace and harmony with all mankind.
Buru said “every year he usually visited top Nigerian Islamic leaders and scholars including the Sultan of Sokoto, Dr. Sa’ad Abubakar, Shiekh Dahiru Bauchi, Shiekh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, Shiekh Salihu Mai-Barota, Shiekh Ibrahim Yaya ,Alaramma Abdulrahman Mohammed Bichi during the Ramadan.
“We came with our clerics so as to build good relationship with Muslims and our religious teachers.
“We must love our Muslim neighbours, that is why we are here to join them in celebrating the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan and to urge them to rededicate their lives to the worship of Allah,” he said.
He said Nigeria is facing tough times amids the COVID-19 pandemic, hence the need to join hands with every stakeholder and pray for peace and stability in the country.
Pastor Buru further disclosed that Christian leaders every year go to Nigerian Correctional Service centres to bail some Muslim brothers so that they can do their fasting at home with friends and family like every other person, and also attend Tafsir to learn together.
“We are also planning to do the same this year. We must do everything to promote peace and unity among mankind across the world. We are created by one God”.
The Clergyman added that during last April’s Lenten period, Muslims in large numbers visited him at home to join in the breaking of fast despite the Coronavirus lockdown and economic recession.
“God created us to be in relationship with all human beings irrespective of his or her tribe, culture, religion, colour, size, region and continent,” he said.
The General Overseer noted that the Interfaith Iftar is indeed strengthening the bond of friendship and also promoting unity among the different faith-based organizations in the state, and this would help in tackling religious extremism and hatred among Kaduna citizens.
Buru emphasized that joining Muslims in breaking Ramadan Iftar breakfast doesn’t change his religion, and encouraged other Christian leaders to find ways of strengthening interfaith activities.
Responding, Mallam Rilwanu Abdullahi expressed satisfaction over the visit and thanked all the Christians clerics that joined him in breaking the Ramadan Iftar Breakfast with the aim of promoting peace and unity among Nigerians.
Abdullahi said peace is all we need in Nigeria and all over the world, stressing that only God can reward Pastor Yohanna for the good intention of promoting peace in the country. (NAN)
Religion
Not Everything on Social Media Should Feed You- Cleric
The Senior Pastor of Streams of Joy International, Jerry Eze, has urged Christians not to feed on everything they see on social media.Eze made the call during his sermon at the church service on Sunday in Abuja.He noted that certain contents on social media could corrupt the minds of God’s children,negatively influencing their thoughts,spirit and behavior.
“Don’t let everything feed you. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Not everything on social media should feed you.“You remember the vile words of the enemy more than you remember what is in the word(the Bible).“I didn’t even want to talk about it, but I do recognise that when you head Equatorial Guinea, it fed you and re-fed you, “he said.He said that God has unique plans for His children, but required them to be in tune with Him.He added that they also need to be intentional about the information they consume on social media, the company they keep, and the places they go.Eze urged the congregants to guard their vision in accordance with God’s instructions, just as a pregnant woman was advised on what to consume to keep her body safe and healthy.The cleric prayed for wisdom and understanding for the congregants, asking God to guide them on their unique life paths.He added that they should not dwell on their fears and insecurities, but instead look to God for the fulfillment of their new seasons.According to the pastor, some difficulties are allowed by God to build and prepare his children to handle greater responsibilities in the future.(NANReligion
Bigard Seminary has Produced 4 Cardinals, 37 Bishops– Rector
The Rector, Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, Very Rev. Fr. Albert Ikpenwa, says the seminary has produced four cardinals, 14 archbishops, 37 bishops and thousands of priests since it officially opened in 1924.
Ikpenwa disclosed this on Tuesday at news conference to give insight on Bigard Centenary Celebration scheduled to begin on Nov.
10 in Enugu.He said the seminary had also produced thousands of priests working in Nigeria, Europe, America, Australia and other parts of the world.
Ikpenwa listed the Cardinals to include Francis Arinze, Dominic Ekandem, Christian Tummi and Peter Okpalaeke.
According to him, some of the archbishops are Valerian Okeke, Bishops Callistus Onaga, John Okoye, Albert Obiefuna, among others.
He added that the seminary had also served in the formation of seminarians from Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Liberia and produced professors in many universities as well as other individuals who studied there but did not serve as priest.
The rector said Bigard Memorial Seminary started as St. Paul’s Seminary, Igbariam, Anambra, in 1922, an initiative of Bishop Joseph Shanahan, the then Vicar Apostolic of the Vicariate of Southern Nigeria.
“The seminary was, however, officially opened in 1924 to teach theology and philosophy following Pope Benedict XV’s 1919’s letter that emphasised the need and urgency of establishing indigenous clergy in mission lands.
“In 1928, the seminary was moved to Onitsha and a senior seminary was opened at Eke in Enugu State in 1934 to separate it from the junior seminary.
“The senior seminary was later transferred to Enugu in 1939, then to Okpala, Imo, in 1942, and finally back to Enugu in 1951 where it has remained as Bigard Memorial Seminary,” he said.
He explained that seminary was named Bigard to honour Stephanie and Jeanne Bigard, the mother and daughter foundresses of the Opus Sancti Petri Apostoli society, which funded the building of the seminary.
Speaking on the 100 years anniversary, the Chairman Planning Committee, Rev. Fr. Kelvin Udenwagu, said the event was going to be a great and unique one as it would be a reunion of the people that passed through the seminary in the past 100 years.
He listed the activities to mark the event to include inaugural Mass, inauguration of academic year and award to distinguished students, cultural event, Biblical quiz, symposium, football match and dance.
The clergyman added that the celebration would begin on Nov. 10 and end on Nov. 21.
The highlight of the conference was a media facility tour that included the new student hostels built by Ikpenwa. (NAN)
CRIME
Chief Imam’s Sallah Ram Stolen in Jos
There was a drama as the sacrificial ram of the Chief Imam of the Mista Ali community in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Imam Abdulkadir went missing on the eve of the Ed-el-Kabir.
Abdulkadir’s ram was reportedly stolen during a downpour in the area on the eve of the Ed-el-Kabir.
An Imam in the community, Haruna Yaqub, disclosed this during the sermon, shortly after the two Raka’at prayers.
Yaqub, who condemned the incident, described it as “insensitive”.
He added that the act showed that people lack fear for God.
The Imam said, “The Ram of our Chief Imam, which he purposely brought to sacrifice, has been stolen in the night.
We are really shocked by the incident. We were surprised to hear this story. This means that people are not God-fearing.“It is scary that people have gone to the extent of stealing ram meant for religious activity.”
Speaking further, he urged people to be God-fearing and not engage in either stealing or any act of criminality.
He stressed that everyone will account for their actions on earth and hereafter.
“It is high time people repented and took the path of Allah. It is not too late. People should stop committing bad things and act according to Allah’s commandments,” he urged.