By Charles Igwe
The Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja is gearing up to host the second plenary assembly of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) for the year 2023. This significant gathering is scheduled to take place from September 7 to September 15, 2023, in Abuja, Nigeria. The program will kick off with a meeting involving bishops, major superiors of congregations in Nigeria, and members of the Catholic community from the Abuja province.
The assembly, which will convene all the Bishops of Nigeria, encompassing both active and retired bishops, as well as Diocesan Administrators, will commence with an Opening Mass. The Opening Mass will be presided over by the CBCN President, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, and will take place on Sunday, September 10, at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama. Following this spiritual commencement, the official opening ceremony will be held at the same venue.
The official opening session will commence with the solemn enthronement of the Holy Bible, a symbolic gesture of spiritual guidance. It will be followed by an opening remark by the Chairman of the occasion, along with a welcome address delivered by the CBCN President. The event will also feature goodwill messages from esteemed figures, including the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, the Prelate of the Methodist Church, Dr. Oliver Aba, as well as several government dignitaries.
Throughout the assembly, each day will typically begin with the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Holy Mass accompanied by Lauds. Subsequently, the Bishops will engage in the daily sessions, which will include reports from various ecclesiastical provinces, CBCN units, and the departments of the Catholic Secretariat. This gathering serves as a crucial platform for discussions, deliberations, and the advancement of important matters within the Catholic community in Nigeria.
