Archbishop Ndagoso Ends 2- Day Pastoral Visit To St Lwanga Parish, Commissions School

…Says Parish community Alive, growing, Dynamic

By Frederick Peters, KADUNA

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: The Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev. Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, has ended his 2-Day Pastoral visit to St Charles Lwanga, Parish Ungwar Sunday, Kaduna, describing the visit as exciting, revealing and entrusting, while applauding the community as a growing and dynamic parish

The visit which held on Saturday- Sunday had 14 couples administered the sacrament of matrimony, 92 Confirmed, while 24 persons were commissioned as Lectors and climaxed with the commissioning of the parish school, by the Archbishop among other things

Speaking Archbishop Ndagoso said the 2-Day visit ” have been exciting, revealing and entrusting adding that, the Bishop’s pastoral visits to a parish, is to strengthen them, noting that, whatever you are doing in life, ” if your superior comes to you, from time to time to see you, talk to you, listen to you, it encourages you and strengthens you to surmount whatever challenges you are facing

” yesterday I had I4 weddings, meaning that, we have 28 Catholics who entered into communion as full practicing Catholics: so it’s wonderful and today i have 92 confirmations and 24 commissioned Lectors, so all these are clear signs that the church is growing, the church is dynamic and the church is moving ” he stressed

According to him ‘ If these things are happening” that’s my joy as Bishop, because my work is to enhance and proclaim the gospel; so when I see it progressing, I can only be happy, so the last two days has been very exciting, they have been very revealing and I thank God for the community, a dynamic community and you can see, we are crowning It here with the officiall opening of the school, so it’s wonderful” he reiterated

Ndagoso further urged the community to continue to do the things the are doing saying ” They are doing very well, I think the community is growing, it’s dynamic and there are so many things that I have seen and heard especially, in this visit that has shown me that the community is alive, the community is moving and therefore it gives me joy” he stressed

While reacting to the Russia invasion of Ukraine amidst global condemnation said the action is ” unfortunate and frightening “as it threatens world peace, which could lead to third world war, if care is not taken. While pointing out the need for a sustainable diplomatic solution, he called on the faithful to go to God in Prayers seeking the intercession of Mother Mary

” we must go to our Mother, pray the rosary, so that the wonders that she performed to bring down the walls of Russia then USSR, that it will happen again, so let us pray because nobody is safe, we pray that this war starting with the invasion of Ukraine will not lead to another war that will involve the whole World” he added

Similarly, the Pariah Priest of St Charles Lwanga, Rev Fr. Anthony Okelue, elated by the outcome of the Archbishop’s visit said” it has been awesome, because you do not see the Archbishop every day, you rarely see him and so we have been preparing. for this day and we thank God that He has made possible

” All of us are very happy and believe that his coming will help to cement our community better and bring about progress in the community and so we are very happy and everybody is elated” he averred

According to him, the 2- Day visit may have ended with the Archbishop celebrating Mass and going back home, ” but we tried to show him round and tell him the things that we are doing outside the worship inside the church and when he sees he’s encouraged the more to give us support by way of advise, by way of financial support otherwise

” so apart from the sacrements that was conferred on some of our members, we tell him other things that we feel affect us as a community and that helps us bond together” he added

In the same vein, the Parish Pastoral Chairman, Mr Gabriel Hassan Gani delighted by the success story, said ” am very happy with the turnout of parishioners, visitors and the likes” while appreciating the Archbishop for the visit, commended the parish priest for his commitment; not forgetting the parishioners and other spirited indivifuals whose contributions facilitated the success of the visit.

The newly commissioned St Charles School presently operates the Creche/ Nursery, Primary classes, but will soon embark on the JSS class among other development strides to meet the spiritual, moral and educational standards of the School and lots more