By Olivia Obijiaku
The Children of the Catholic Diocese of Zaria under the umbrellas of Holy Childhood Association (HCA), and Young Missionary Movement of Nigeria (YOMMN), have been charged to imitate the lifestyle of Paul and Silas who prayed and sang, when they were imprisoned for propagating the Good News of Jesus. The Local Ordinary of the diocese, Most Rev Dr. Habila Tyiakonaboi Daboh gave the charge during the Mass for the Children Day Celebration, at St Joseph Minor Seminary, Palladan Zaria, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
The bishop explained that though the unlocking of the prison, as facilitated by the earthquake, presented the prisoners with the opportunity to escape, they decided not to run away. Instead, they remained and had the opportunity to discourage the jailer from killing himself– a decision that led to his bodily and spiritual salvation.
His words, “I want to encourage you to be prayerful too. You have to pray before you start anything. No matter how hungry you are, pray before you eat. Pray and ask God to help you to understand and remember what you have read, so that you will succeed in your exams. Pray when you wake up in the morning. Tell daddy and mummy the importance of prayer, if they do not pray.”
In an interview with Trinitas Newspaper, Onitsha, the newly appointed Coordinator of HCA of the diocese, Mrs. Esther Maina commended her predecessor, Mrs. Christiana Ekenta, for laying a good foundation for the society, promising to build on already established legacies.
She revealed that part of the challenges confronting the group is the unwillingness of some parents to release their children, especially on Sundays, because most parishes do not celebrate Masses for children, though notably, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, ABU, celebrates Masses for children, at the same time, when their parents participate in another Mass – celebrated for adults. Other challenges include poor funding and insufficient number of animators, meant to groom the children, citing her parish, St Enda’s where few animators cater for about three hundred children, as an example.
On efforts made to sustain the faith in the children when they graduate from HCA, Mrs. Maina replied that after they must have been sent forth, they are integrated into societies like, Legion of Mary, Choir, and Lay Readers Association.
Her appeals, “We are in need of animators. We appeal to the diocese to help us with this. We need the Parish Priests to help us with Masses for the children. Some children who do not attend our activities join us on Sundays. But some parents do not release their children. They complain that their children will not attend the Mass, if they join us.”
On the criteria for recruiting credible candidates as animators, the coordinator responded that, though having the interest of children is a major advantage, a guideline from the national body is prerequisite conditions. Such conditions include filling a form against child trafficking.
The second part of the celebration featured match past, Folk Dance Competition, catching the train by yommites, among others. At the end, St Enda’s Parish, Palladan; St Theresa of the Child Jesus, Hanwa and Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Graceland clinched the 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions respectively, in the match past, while St Dennis Parish, Danladi; St Enda’s Parish, Palladan and Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, emerged 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Folk Dance Competition.
