Catholic Bishops meet to discuss state of the nation, others

From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja

Catholic Bishops drawn from various Archdioceses and Dioceses across the country, will tomorrow congregate in Auchi to discuss the state of the nation and other issues.

The 2024 second plenary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, is being hosted by the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, with Most Rev. (Dr) Gabriel Dunia as the Local Ordinary.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria is the highest decision-making body of the Catholic Church in Nigeria and holds its plenary meeting twice in a year, where matters of the Catholic faith and society are discussed and resolutions in the form of a communique are communicated to the Catholic faithful in Nigeria, leaders of the nation and Nigerians in general.

The meeting is coming on the heels of the recent hunger protest by the #EndBadGovernance group and the #TakeItBack movement.

This is the first time the Bishops are meeting since the protests took place from August 1 to August 10, 2024, even as the protesters had vowed to continue on October 1.

Daily Sun gathered that while in Auchi, the bishops will discuss political, economic and religious issues affecting the nation.

The Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Rev. Fr. Peter Egielewa, in a statement made available to Daily Sun, said: “The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Edo State, Most Rev. Dr Gabriel G. Dunia, together with the entire faithful in the Diocese are set to host the second plenary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) for the year 2024 from August 22 to 30, 2024.

“The meeting hopes to bring together over 80 Catholic Bishops to Auchi Diocese, also called Afenmai land, made up of the six local government areas of Edo North senatorial district of Edo State.”

Egielewa further said the meeting is the first time the Catholic Diocese of Auchi will be hosting the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria in its 21-year history after its erection as a Diocese on February 22, 2003, with Bishop Dunia as its first and current Bishop. Egielewa quoted Bishop Dunia as saying, “All catholic faithful in the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, at home and in the Diaspora, as well as friends and well-wishers of the Diocese are invited to take part in this epoch-making event in welcoming the fathers of the Catholic Church in Nigeria, particularly to the opening Mass at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Auchi on Sunday, August 25, 2024, and the general opening ceremonies at Uyi Grands Hall, Auchi.”