by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
JOS – The Catholic Archdiocese of Jos has expressed sadness and pains over the incessant attacks and gruesome killings in which over 30,000 people are out of their ancestral lands to take refuge in internally displaced person’s (IDP) camps, surviving on charities.
The Catholic Church also sympathized with families, who lost their loved ones and the governor, Caleb Mutfwang, who is “Captain of the ship” in the stormy weather, and recommend his efforts towards reconciling the different parties and returning the displaced population back to their ancestral homes where they drive their sources of livelihood.
This was contained in a communiqué at the end of the 5 days’ Catholic Archdiocese of Jos’ 20 General Assembly, 2023, with a theme: ‘Jos Archdiocese at 70: Reviving the Missionary Drive and Economic Sustainability.’
The communiqué was signed by the Catholic Archbishop of Jos, His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Ishaya Audu, and the Chancellor, Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Gyang. It also encouraged all to watch out in their communities and be their brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.
According to the Church, “After 70 years of existence, we cannot in conscience say that the labours of our missionary heroes have been in vain. To revive the Missionary Drive in the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos, our Priests must not forget that they are called to guide people from proliferation of contradictory currents to the gospel and save the world from what St. Pope John Paul II calls, “Proliferation of Messianic cults and religious sects.”
The communiqué further stated that, Priests and various leaders of societies can greatly revive the Missionary spirit in the Archdiocese, if they concentrate on trying to understand the principal treasures of the Church, which are Scripture and Tradition.
They decried the rate of kidnapping and killings going in the State and the Country, and called on the authorities to take steps that can help abate and prevent any further escalation.
While commending the governor on his victory at the polls, the clerics encouraged him to try and deliver on his mandate, as expectations are high, and appealed to him to expedite efforts at payment of accrued salaries, gratuity and pensions, saying, “for the laborer deserve his wages.
“As a Church, we are unaware of the untold hardships we face in the country. Amidst all these challenges, let us not lose hope but trust that, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.”
The communiqué, stressed thus: “In the face of the current reality of donor fatigue and economic crunch, the Catholic Church in Jos Archdiocese must become entrepreneurial, in order to sustain itself financially.”
Furthermore, in its drive to establish a Catholic Business that would support the Church, an Economic Advisory Team of the Archdiocese will be constituted to advise appropriately. The Church called on all Parish Priests in-charge to ensure that the prayers are said at appropriate time.
