The Catholic Bishop of Gboko Diocese in Benue State, Most Rev William Avenya, has commissioned Saint Augustine Catholic Church, Enger, in Tarka Local Government Area, constructed by the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Wanune, Dr Emmanuel Ashinya. The church was dedicated to the worship of God as part of events to mark Dr Ashinya's birthday celebration. Bishop Avenya commended Dr Ashinya for the initiative, describing the church as a valuable contribution to the spiritual development of the community.
During his homily, Bishop Avenya called on Nigerians to embrace honesty, selfless service, discipline, and responsible leadership as essential values for societal transformation. He described the church as a sanctuary from which the word of God, love, charity, humility, and selfless service should flow to transform individuals and community lives. The Bishop also cautioned against the abuse of institutions established to serve the public, drawing from Jesus Christ's condemnation of commercial activities in the temple.
Bishop Avenya expressed concerns over the country becoming a one-party state, saying such a system has contributed to breeding underdevelopment, especially in Benue State. He noted that there are very capable leaders in other political parties, but many people stick to one party, resulting in those who could develop the state and country not being elected into office. The Catholic Bishop challenged political leaders to demonstrate sincerity, provide purposeful leadership, and prioritize the welfare of the people.
Bishop Avenya also appealed to men to take greater responsibility for childcare and family upbringing, stressing that parenting should not be left entirely to women, who already bear enormous domestic responsibilities. He charged members of the community to protect the newly blessed church against vandalism and other destructive activities, emphasizing that its facilities were a collective heritage and should remain a peaceful place of worship for students, staff, and residents.
The Rector, Dr Emmanuel Ashinya, explained that building the church for his people is a mission accomplished. He said that at a tender age, his father had a desire to build a church in Minna Diocese but couldn't accomplish that dream. Dr Ashinya noted that as an institution of learning, he has always been concerned about the welfare of students, particularly Catholic students who had to travel into town to attend church services.
Dr Ashinya disclosed that he intends to construct another chapel that will serve students of other denominations. He appreciated Bishop Avenya for honouring him to come and commission the church and his staff, students, community members, friends, and family for coming together to celebrate him. A student of the polytechnic, Joy, appreciated the school Rector for building the edifice, describing it as a huge blessing.
Bishop Avenya commended Ashinya and his family for the initiative and called on the faithful to sustain their commitment to building the church through prayer, faith, and responsible conduct. He further encouraged the Federal Polytechnic community to promote discipline, excellence, and creativity, while highlighting the Diocese's commitment to developing educational and healthcare institutions.
Key points
- The church was built to serve the spiritual needs of students and the Christian community in the area.
- Bishop Avenya urged Christians to emulate Dr Ashinya's example in contributing to the development of the church.
- The Rector's initiative is expected to promote discipline, excellence, and creativity in the Federal Polytechnic community.
