The Catholic Bishop of Zaria Diocese, Most Rev. George J. Dodo, administered the sacrament of confirmation on Sunday September 18, 2016 to 96 parishioners of Christ the king Catholic Cathedral.
Also at the event, about 50 parishioners received first Holy Communion after the normal Catholic tradition of undergoing series of Catechism classes.
In his homily, Bishop Dodo thanked God for the lives of the Catechumen and prayed God to strengthen them in faith, thereby propagating the gospel. While charging them not to deviate from their faith, the clergyman commended their parents, their guardians and their catechism teachers for teaching them to embrace the sacraments aimed at initiating and strengthening them in the Lord.
Bishop Dodo, who read from the communiqué of the recently concluded Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) held in Akure, the Ondo State Capital from 8 to 16 September, further spoke extensively on the current economic recession bedeviling the country, describing the situation as unfortunate. He decried the high rate of armed robbery, kidnapping and attacks by Fulani herdsmen and called on all concerned citizens to pray for Nigeria.
The communiqué captured the aforementioned burning National issues among other matters which the Bishop presented with deep passion and concern as he urged all priests in the diocese to read out the Bishops position to all the Catholic faithful.
Bishop Dodo, who is also the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State chapter, urged Christians not to give up hope as he joined his fellow Bishops in saluting the courage and resilience of Nigerians despite the current economic hardship.
Presentation of gifts by the Cathedral Laity Council, Societies, Individuals and groups as well as a group photograph of the Catechumen with the Bishop and priests climaxed the event.