(ANS – Abuja) – The newly appointed Cardinal, His Eminence John Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja paid a surprise visit to the Salesian Parish of The Church of the Archangels in Durumi, Abuja, on Sunday, 20th January. The Cardinal’s visit comes at the start of the two weeks’ preparation for the feast of Don Bosco and he was very happy to meet the people. He has a very jovial character and is very informal in his approach to the people.

Actually the Salesians had only been handed the Parish at the end of October on the eve of the feast of Don Rua, and these first few months have been a time of transition as the Salesian community comes to know the people especially the young.

A two week programme has been drawn up in preparation for the feast of Don Bosco, starting with the novena, and includes sports, a quiz on Don Bosco and Youth Catechism, drama, song and dance. The programme will climax in a day of Celebration on the 10th of February when the Cardinal has been invited to the Parish to celebrate the Mass of Don Bosco, to confer the sacrament of Confirmation and to inaugurate a new Blessed Sacrament Chapel.

It was therefore a very pleasant surprise when the Cardinal unexpectedly called on the Parish to celebrate Mass with the Parish community so that he would see the people, as he said, as they really are. Providentially, his visit coincided with the visit of the Provincial Delegate for Nigeria, Fr Michael Karikunnel, who was visiting the community and the Parish in his role of animation.

Fr Michael explained to the people the history of how the Salesians came to Abuja and took the opportunity to thank the Cardinal for inviting and giving them the responsibility of the Parish of the Archangels, which is right in the heart of the city of Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. He outlined the different works that the Salesians have in Nigeria and how they also recently have providentially come to Lagos and acquired land so that can consolidate the presence there. Fr Michael told the people of Don Bosco’s recommendations to the first missionaries to Argentina: all the missionaries are sent to seek souls and not, honor, nor money.

The Cardinal on his part spoke of his joy at seeing the Salesians in his Archdiocese and he had long been praying for this. He welcomed Fr Michael and said that having the Salesians in the Diocese was not only to run the Parish, but more especially to help in the youth ministry in the Diocese. The people were quite overjoyed to welcome the Cardinal, especially so soon after his appointment.

The Cardinal blessed the people who came up in thanksgiving. In particular the children received a blessing from the Cardinal as he wished them well till he meets them again for the day of celebration.

The new community is made up of Fr Dominic Hounsounou from Togo, Fr Richard Ebejer from Malta, Fr Charles Uzoeto from Nigeria, Bro. Kunle Ogundana a Nigerian missionary waiting for his visa to be processed. The community will soon be joined by Deacon Peace Ike who hails from Abuja itself.

Published 21/01/2013