Rev. Bernard Desben from the Missionaries of St. Paul (MSP) has called on Christians in Nigeria to demonstrate their love through actions, as Christ did for the church.
Desben offered this counsel in his homily at St. Luke Catholic Chaplaincy in Gwagwalada, Abuja, during the Fathers’ Day celebration.
He emphasized that one of the key messages for today is the theme of love, as found in the Gospel of John, Chapter 15, verses 9 to 17.
“In the Gospel according to John, Jesus informed his disciples that the greatest act of love one can offer is to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
“As Christians, having been baptized into Christ and receiving new life in Him, we strive to embody that love in our Christian vocation,” Desben explained.
The clergyman stated that Christians are called to obey God’s commandments, which center on loving one another.
He further noted that love necessitates action, which should manifest in acts of charity.
Discussing the significance of fathers, Desben mentioned that fathers are the backbone of the church, noting that while a mother’s love is nurturing, a father’s love often complements it.
“Often, a father’s love provides what a mother’s love cannot,” he stated.
Desben called on families to consistently recognize their fathers and urged fathers to address their shortcomings and make amends.
In a similar vein, Most Rev. Fr. Augustus Essien (MSP), the Founding Priest of the Chaplaincy, while extending his congratulations to the Catholic Men Organisation (CMO) of the Chaplaincy, exhorted Christians to practice love and cherish one another.
Essien also offered prayers for God to fortify the fathers to continue being the support of the church and motivated them to persist in their support of the church.
During his address, Dr. Ezekiel Alagboso, the President of the CMO of the Chaplaincy, committed on behalf of the members to maintain the honor of fatherhood and to value the precious gift of family as the fundamental church.
Alagboso expressed gratitude to God for the gift of fatherhood and the infinite love of the heavenly Father.
He sought divine grace to keep guiding and blessing the members in their pursuits.
The ceremony’s highlight was the presentation of awards to the founding members, including the first priest.
Saint Luke Catholic Chaplaincy, located at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital in Gwagwalada, was established in 1996 with Most Rev. Fr. Augustus Essien serving as the inaugural priest.
