Synodal journey ‘critical in rebuilding Nigeria’s Maiduguri Diocese’
Vatican news
The Church’s synodal journey has revived the faith and evangelical unity of Catholics in the Nigerian diocese of Maiduguri, according to a local priest.
By Michael Maduekwe
Fr. Hyellamada Mathias, Parish Priest of St. Anne’s Parish in Michika, Nigeria, shared his views on the need for the synodal trip to the Diocese of Maiduguri following the devastation caused by Boko Haram. The non-state armed group has greatly affected the Church and the faithful in the northeast of the country.
“The Synod also aims to bring the Church together to reflect and reflect on the path forward for mission,” Fr. Hyellamada said in an interview with Vatican News. “So we should look at the situation that has happened in the northeast and in the diocese; this is a truly wonderful opportunity to come together to examine the effects and challenges that have accompanied these events and to defend the course of the Gospel going forward, collectively as a Church.
Despite the devastation caused by Boko Haram in the diocese of Maiduguri, notably through the demolition of churches and the kidnapping of people from their homes, Fr. Hyellamada expresses hope that the synodal trip can help in the reconstruction of the diocese.
Rely on the existing spirit of synodality
Fr. Hyellamada recognized that the Church of Maiduguri has traveled the path of synodality.
“As a Church, particularly an African one, we are a community Church. As a community church, we already have this spirit of life together,” he said.
He noted that the diocesan bishop has created opportunities for the lay faithful to “sit down and discuss how to defend the mission of the Gospel in the diocese.”
Fr Hyellamada emphasized that to continue to build on the spirit of this existing synodal culture, the Church has a role to play in emphasizing these values.
“All we need to continue to improve,” he said, “is to enhance our culture and also some of our moral values, so that we, as a Church, can continue to emphasize some of them and together, as a Church, we can continue to defend the path of the Gospel together.
Synodality: we must all do our part
With reference to the Sainte-Anne parish, Father Hyellamada explained how parish activities are carried out in such a way as to guarantee that everyone is listened to and accompanied.
“We also give the opportunity to different companies to express their opinion,” he said. “With all these opinions from different angles, we harmonize them and put them together. We also manage to agree on how we can also defend the course of the Gospel.
The future of the Church
“You are the future of the world, the hope of the Church,” Pope Saint John Paul II once said, greeting a large number of young people at the inauguration of his pontificate.
In the same way, Pope Francis often says: “Dear young people, you are the living hope of a Church on the move! »
Fr. Hyellamada shares their perspective and takes deliberate approaches to engaging the youth of the parish.
“We are planning a youth summit, hopefully early next year,” he said. “This is all about bringing people together and charting a path forward for the gospel.”
Signs of the fruits of synodality
Fr Hyellamada acknowledged that the synodal discussions were “useful”.
He noted that synodality “is starting to have its effects, because people also have great ideas” about how to move forward as a parish community.
This new attitude is visible in that people now feel free to “stand up” and “speak out”.
As the Church continues its journey of synodality, Fr. Hyllemada said the Synod brought together parish communities in the Church’s mission of evangelization.
“For me the message is this,” he said. “The Pope has proposed something important, and all we have to do is come together as a Church to highlight some of our good moral qualities, harness them together and use them for the propagation of the ‘Gospel.’
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