THE Most Rev. Wilfred Anagbe, Catholic Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, has suspended all pastoral activities at St. Peter’s Parish, Low-Level, in Makurdi, following the desecration of the Holy Eucharist and the looting of sacred vessels in the Church. Rev. Fr. James Utav, diocesan deputy director, communication, said the Parish would henceforth be closed from the celebration of Holy Mass and all other activities in line with Canon 1211.
Utav, who confirmed the development in a telephone interview, said the Bishop, while reading the decree sanctioning the suspension of pastoral activities, said that the suspension followed two sacrilegious attacks on the Parish on 12 August and 13 September by yet-to-be-identified persons.
He also confirmed that the suspension takes effect from Tuesday, September 15, 2020. “The decree sanctioning the suspension states that the Parish will be closed from the celebration of the Holy Mass and all other pastoral activities in line with Canon 1211 with effect from today, 15 September 2020 until further notice,” he explained.
Utav quoted the Bishop as revealing that the Chapel of Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the main Church building was broken into, during the attacks. “The sacred specie of the Most Holy Eucharist was desecrated and sacred vessels looted thereby defiling the Church.
“The closure is to enable us to adequately prepare for penance required by law in order to repair the injury this profanation has done to the sacred body of Christ. Pastoral activities shall resume only after a proportional satisfaction is made with regards to this sacrilege and we are also fully guaranteed a better security outfit and structure for the parish in accordance with canonical requirements.
“When that is done, the entire worshiping community of this Parish, among other things, must perform a novena of reparation to be concluded with a rite of atonement in line with diocesan liturgical norms,” he further quoted the Bishop as saying. (NAN)
