CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF WUKARI TARABA STATE NIGERIA CELEBRATES 109TH WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES
2024-09-19 | Church-SocietyDescription
The Catholic Diocese of Wukari on Sunday, September 24, 2023, observed the 109th World Day of Migrants and Refugees. This global traditional annual event, being the 1st of its kind in Nigeria, took place at St. Joseph parish Gembu Sardauna LGA of Taraba State with the help of Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis (TSSF) working in the said Diocese and the Refugees Empowerment Center (RECE), a refugee-led-initiative.
This was with the aim of reaching out to the community and the need for socio-economic inclusion of Refugees, reflecting the event's values on promoting the spirit of inclusivity as well as celebrating human right and a call for action on the challenges faced by migrants and refugees of the world at large.
MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER, POPE FRANCIS
Reflecting on the message of the holy father titled: "Free To Choose Whether To Migrate Or To Stay", Rev. Fr. Nathaniel Bali, the Diocesan Acting Coordinator Ecumenical Dialogue, Peace and Reconciliation Commission in line with the holy father stressed the need for freedom of movement for all God's creatures. He then, urge St. Joseph parishioners Gembu to always be receptive and kind to migrants and Refugees on their corridors. The Cleric further avowed that, no one chooses to be borne a refugee or Migrant as the case maybe, he or she rather becomes one due to the negative forces of this world. Therefore, all of us are potential refugees and migrants.
THE ESCHATOLOGICAL DIMENSION OF THE POPE'S MESSAGE
Pointing out the eschatological dimension as contained in the message of the Holy Father, Fr. Bali emphasized the need for Christians to learn from the parable of the sheep and the goats as recorded in Mathew's gospel. He further added that, if we are not sensitive to the less privilege around us here on earth, we might be blocking our chances to God's Kingdom because on the day of judgement, both the faithful, namely, those who see God in the eyes of the poor, the hungry and the naked Migrants as well as the unfaithful, namely, those who did nothing to better the existence of the poor will be rewarded accordingly (24:45-51).
THE POOR MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES AS OUR COMPANION TO HEAVENLY JOURNEY
Commenting on this sensitive dimension of the Pope's message, Fr. Bali pointed out the fact that, we need the poor Migrants and Refugees on our voyage to eternal life, henceforth, we should treat the poor as part of our salvation, lest we may be losing our heavenly inheritance. He finally encouraged the poor Migrants and Refugees present and by extension, all the Refugees and Migrants of the whole world to set aside religious fanaticism, tribal inclinations and too much anxiety but do their best to see that their condition does not ruin their souls. In other words, they should always have good relationship with God and with one another for it is only by so doing that they can gain admittance into God's Kingdom.