Lent: Amb Remawa Hosts Thanksgiving Mass As Muslims, Christians Pray For Peace, Unity

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: A renowned peace Ambassador, Saratu Remawa Suleiman, aka Amb MAMU, has organized a thanksgiving Mass at this period of Lent to pray for God’s mercy, love, peace and in the country, particularly, northern Nigeria.

Remawa also used the Thanksgiving Mass to celebrate the sendforth of a priest of the Diocese of Kontagora, resident in Our Lady’s Parish, Independence Way, Kaduna

The event which held on Monday at her Residence in Kaduna, attracted priests, Religious, Muslims and Christians among others.

Speaking, Amb.Saratu Remawa Sulieman, wife of the former Nigeria’s Ambassador/ Chancery to Poland, said “we are here today on a Lenten season to ask God for the forgiveness of our sins, for unity in our country, love and unity in the northern states of Nigeria,”

According to her, the essence of our togetherness is for the ” understanding of each other, and to clean our hearts so that we will do the good will of God, the good will of Allah that joined us together

” We are all here Muslims and Christians together in my humble home and we are all welcome in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the name of Allah we are here gathered to ask for forgiveness, love and progress in our country

“Today also is the sendforth of our Rev. Father Koko, he has been our guest, he’s going back to Kontagora, and we wish him safe journey, blessings and the love of God always” she added.

Similarly, the Parish Priest, Our Lady’s Parish, Independence Way and Dean Kaduna North Deanery, Very Rev Fr Anthony Okelue, said the Thanksgiving Mass is divinely inspired, ” our Mummy Amb. Saratu Remawa, decided on her own to call us together Christians and Muslims as a way of fostering peace and harmonious coexistence; adding that the Mass is also to pray for the success of Zumuntan mata Deanery conference to be hosted by his parish, between 11th and 13 April, 2024.

He said she equally wants us to “use the opportunity to pray about it and to also open it up to our Muslim brothers and sisters, let them get to know what we are doing, so we’ll join hands together and then build our state

” then there’s a Priest staying with us, who is Fr Francis Koko, he’s about to go back to Kontagora Diocese, it’s a kind of a mini sendforth for him, so it’s just a love feast, a get- together,and an opportunity to bond together as people of God” he stated.

Describing further the outcome of the event, “it’s just awesome, I’m sure every body left here with a lot of pleasant surprises, we didn’t know it was going to be this deep, as we met our brothers and sisters. While lamenting how misinformation and bad blood has caused disharmony in the country, he called on all to right our wrongs to live in a better country free from all kinds of discrimination and troubles.

On his part, the Deputy Director – General Bureau of Interfaith, Kaduna State, Rev Fr Anthony Shawuya, described the event as an ‘Interfaith Phenomenon,’ he said” an Interfaith phenomenon is not just the coming together of Christians and Muslims, but you’ll see that there’s a kind of spirit that binds people that have the same spirit around them, the same disposition towards peace and peaceful coexistence, you will see it clearly.

He pointed further that ” it’s not the one that holds because you’re a Christian and I’m Muslim, we just come together in an uncomfortable union; but I have seen a phenomenon here, that people of like minds, who are interested in wanting peace, the progress of the north and Nigeria entirely, and praying for Nigeria they have gathered here, that’s why I call it an Interfaith phenomenon” he reiterated.

On her part, the Executive Director, Women’s Interfaith Council, WIC, Rev. Sr. Veronica Onyeanisi, OLA, said her message at the Thanksgiving Mass with Muslims and Christians who were in attendance at a period of fasting by both faiths, is a ” message of peace, love and unity in our land, adding that as ” we gather this evening to break fast as Muslims and Christians, both faiths are fasting this period and God has destined it.

” It’s not by mistake, but to purify us, to help go back inwards and look into our lives, how have we been living, are we living in the way of God, are we living in the truth that God has prepared for us to live as both Christians and Muslims, are we loving ourselves as we are supposed to love ourselves, are we promoting peace, are we peace Ambassadors, do we respect each other’s religion?

Adding that ” we talk about freedom of religion or belief, do we respect each other’s beliefs, do we appreciate each other’s beliefs, and that is what we have shown here today as Muslims and Christians, that whether you’re a Christian or Muslim, we respect you in your belief and we love you for what you believe, so far that what you believe promotes life not death.” She further stressed by praying for peace, love and justice in our world.

Similarly, Chairman Kada Youths Peace Ambassadors, Muhammad Ismail, said the body has been collaborating with other Youths organizations in fostering peaceful coexistence and harmony in the state. While commending the unique disposition of the interfaith event, said ” it’s a very wonderful sitting, if this kind of program will be arranged, it will bring more peace to our communities,

” you can see we have Rev. Frs. and Imams, it’s a very good thing, and I believe if we have this kind of women in our communities, ( Amb. Remawa) there will be more peace, because she’s out to fight for peace and these are the kind we admire and welcome to our society” he said.

Overwhelmed by the show of love shown him, by friends and the parish, Rev Fr Francis Danjuma Koko, a priest of Kontagora Diocese, said” It’s glorious to see people coming together, even people of different faiths coming together as a nation.”

According to him it is something that is encouraging, and this Mass that we have come together to celebrate together even with people of other faiths participating in the prayer is wonderful, it shows that we have a future as Nigerians, God is with us and Nigeria can be better, so I’m very happy, it’s a glorious celebration, we thank God.”

Speaking, a staunch member of the parish, Dr Abu John Alifia, while thanking God for the Mass, said the event could have been bigger, yet organized in closed circuit is better, ” as it is meant” to send one of our priests who has been with us for almost 8 years and going back to Kontongora, for us is a big change, that’s why we are asking that even if the church must send him forth officially, because we are going to be missing him”

Speaking about the host, Amb. Remawa whom he has met since in 1973, in Poland as wife of the head of Chancery Nigerian embassy in Poland, and since then he has maintained relationship with the husband and family till now..

Commenting further on Nigeria and fears of possible breakup, ” no matter what happens, I don’t think this country can break up, we have become so intertwined that this country can not break up, but we must work very hard to keep it together, the spirit of understanding and wisdom must overtake all other misinformation, this country can move from the ground today halfway to heaven, if we have one voice.

Earlier, during the Mass, Amb. Remawa’s close associate applauded the initiative and need to live together as Christians and Muslims, alluding religious disharmony to ignorance by individuals from both faiths adding that, some are also used to carry out mayhem for selfish reasons by their sponsors, with a call for more of such events to further advance understanding, respect for each other’s faiths and peace in our country.