By Olivia Obijiaku
The Chief Shepherd of the Catholic Diocese of Zaria, Most Rev. Dr. Habila Tyiakwonaboi Daboh recently charged Christians to stop pressing their mobile phones during Holy Masses.
Bishop Daboh gave the advice while delivering a homily during his pastoral visit to St. Enda’s Parish, Zaria, on Sunday, January 26, 2025, where he confirmed 138 candidates drawn from the parish, St. Joseph Minor Seminary, Zaria, and Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Zaria.
“You are to switch off your phone when you enter the Church,” The bishop said. “It is now time for you to listen to God who speaks to you, to direct you, to instruct you, to bless you. It is not time to scroll through your phones. It is not time for you to receive phone calls. No, that is why it is always advised that when you enter the Church, you either switch off your phone or put it in silence or vibration mode. In fact, the idea of silence or vibration mode came because of insecurity.”
Bishop Daboh prayed that the Lord may bless them all, so that at the end of the Mass, they would know and believe that they have no other God but the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Reflecting on the Gospel of the day, in which Jesus was asked to read in the synagogue, the spiritual leader referenced that “the Israelites came back from exile and were seated in the synagogue. When they heard the Word of God, they were happy, excited, and shouted, ‘Amen, Amen, Amen.'”
He continued, “Here we are in the Church. The lectors are not reading their own words; they are reading the Word of God to us, and we are supposed to listen. It is not the time for you to start opening your Bibles or Missals. No, it is time for you to sit and listen to what God is telling you. At that point, Jesus is telling you what He wants you to do and what He does not want you to do. This is to tell us that when you come into the Church, it is now between you and your God.”
