Thousands of Catholics in the Owerri Archdiocese gathered in sober reflection, last Friday, beginning from 3p.m. at the Obiri Odenigbo to re-consecrate the Assumpta Cathedral and ask God for forgiveness.This followed the previous week’s disturbance and unexpected violence at the Cathedral’s Obiri Odenigbo, venue of the botched gubernatorial debate.
The event which started with Rosary at the Obiri Odenigbo, was followed by stations of the cross which involved walking around the field and then Mass at the venue of the forum. The Mass was celebrated simultaneously in all the parishes of the Archdiocese of Owerri. Speaking to The Leader, Archbishop Anthony J.V. Obinna explained that it was necessary to cleanse the church after the unfortunate incident.
“We cleansed the arena because of those who with their behavior brought violence and bad blood around the arena. A cleansing of the arena was done and in the process there was also a cleansing of our hearts and body as well, an act of reparation in getting the forgiveness of God,” the Archbishop said.
During the Mass, there was incensing and sprinkling of Holy water on the people of God. “We are trying to put a close to the whole Imo Guber thing, which was disrupted for reasons not generated from ourselves. We are praying for God’s pardon on Imo people and for the promotion of democratic peace. It is a prayer for reparation and a mass for peace – democratic peace.”
The Archbishop further explained that the people of God needed to pray for the freedom and right to choose and to differ without violence – the right to choose whichever party or whichever candidate you want to vote for and allowing other people to do the same without resorting to intimidation or violence.
His Grace expressed concern at the lack of respect for individual choices, views or expectations and the tendency for some people to resort to intimidation and violence in order to push forward their own claims and opinion. “They want everybody to vote for the same party and that is where the problem comes from,” he added.
“We are praying for our people to cultivate a democratic spirit, the spirit to differ without violence, to promote the culture of peace despite our inclinations or political leanings. Wanting everybody to belong to the same party and to vote for the same person is not a good thing. We want our people to cultivate the democratic spirit of live and let live. We can differ without violence by promoting the culture of peace despite our different inclinations or leanings.”
It should be recalled that on Wednesday, March 11, 2015, political party supporters and thugs disrupted and desecrated the Cathedral during a political forum organized by the Church’s Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC).
The Leader
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