By Olivia Obijiaku
The Catholic Bishop of Kafanchan, Most Rev Dr. Julius Yakubu Kundi has recently underscored the importance of farming in Nigeria expecially now hardship is rocking the masses.
The local ordinary who made this known at the reception for the celebration of twenty-fifth anniversary of priestly ordination of the Vicar General and former Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Zaria, Very Rev Fr. Michael Pius Kagarko, which took place at Good Shepherd Parish, Graceland Zaria, Friday, 6th September, 2024, invited the priest on a year sabbatical leave to his diocese, so that he may share his wealth of experience in farmig with the diocese.
The bishop who had in 2022, commissioned the CATHDIZA Integrated Farms Nig. Ltd., which the celebrant nurtured from the scratch to maturity commended the laudable achievements of the Vicar General in the area of agriculture, especially in the Catholic Diocese of Zaria,
He expressed, “I stand on behalf of the clergy, the religious and the faithful of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan to bring our warm felicitations to my brother, my collaborator and a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Zaria, Rev. Fr. Michael Kagarko who marks his twenty-fifth anniversary in the priesthood. Thank you for all you have been doing for the Church, particularly in Zaria diocese. I listened to the kind words and the soul searching words of the homilist today. I was deeply touched and I believe you will harken to these words.”
“The homilist said that thanksgiving and silver jubilee celebrations or any other anniversary are not meant only for celebrations but are also moments of sober reflections. Based on that, I ask you to please take a sabbatical leave and I propose Kafanchan. In my diocese, we have everything – any category of persons you can think of, especially the clergy. But I do not have a farmer. If I can have Fr. Kagarko for one year, my team in Kafanchan diocese will be complete – in just one year. Should you consider taking a sabbatical leave during your moments of reflection, consider my proposal. Congratulations my brother!”