The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama on Friday dedicated the Nigerian Navy Corpus Cristi Catholic Church in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the Corpus Cristi Catholic Church is located in Naval Base Abuja.
Speaking at the dedication, Kagama said that true strength of the officers of the armed forces did not depend on professional competence alone but also on spiritual strength.
“Your strength does not come from your training, discipline, weapons, or professional competence.
“All the weapons, submarines and other vessels are important for war, but they will not save you if you are spiritually weak.
“You can know how to handle a bomb, start a missile that can go far to destroy, be physically strong, professionally accomplished, but you can also be spiritually weak,” he said.
He urged officers to remind themselves to grow spiritually and advised them to go to priests and other spiritual leaders for guidance when things got tough, noting that the presence of the church at the base made for easier access.
The archbishop also preached unity and togetherness among all denominations of Christians, as well as Muslims brothers and sisters.
In the same vein, he added that unity is also key in the armed forces’ delivery of their duty and obligation to national security.
“St. Paul reminds us that when we share in the one bread and the one cup, we become one body in Christ. This is particularly significant for the navy, where unity, teamwork, loyalty, and mutual trust are indispensable.
“If you remove all these virtues, there is no Navy. If there is no unity, there is no loyalty, there is no teamwork, there is no mutual trust, then you don’t have a Navy.
According to him, commit everything to God, he will give you the strength and intelligence you need in order to conquer evil, because there is evil around us. The duty a priest, as well as that of the navy, is to conquer evil.
Kaigama, however, emphasised that true worship is not just about the uniqueness or the beauty of the church building, noting that a church is not just a place of gathering.
“This beautiful church cannot produce holiness. You also cannot be holy because you enter this church. It is your heart that should make you holy.
“St. Paul says you are the temple of the Holy Spirit, so when our heart is clean, we come into the church and we pray, we raise our hands in prayer, God will hear us.”
According to him, while your professional responsibility is to defend and protect our country, your Christian responsibility is to do so with integrity, respect for human dignity, and a conscience guided by God.
He advised against abuse of the church, warning that the church remains a place of worship and not a place to eat, a hall or a building for extracurricular activities.
Kaigama commended the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, for his dedication to spirituality and observed that there were Catholic priests within the ranks of the navy, and commended the development.
In his remarks, the CNS described the completion and dedication as a mark of the enduring partnership between faith and service, spiritual strength and military duty, as well as institutional commitment and human welfare.
Abbas, represented by Rear Adm. Adetokun Siyanbade, Director of Administration, Naval Headquarters, said that it is also a testament to the religious harmony, mutual respect and unity that remain essential to the navy’s identity as a professional fighting force.
“The Nigerian Navy recognises that the strength of any fighting force lies not only in its ships, weapons and operational capability but also in the character, discipline, resilience and moral conviction of its personnel.
“While military training prepares the body and mind for battle, faith strengthens the human spirit to confront adversity with courage, integrity and hope.
He reaffirmed the navy’s commitment to supporting spiritual and moral development of its personnel and their families, irrespective of religious affiliation.
“The dedication of this church is therefore a visible expression of our commitment to the all-person welfare of our officers, ratings and their families,” he said.
He assured that the church will remain a sanctuary of prayer, a centre of spiritual renewal, a home for families and a source of moral inspiration to generations of naval personnel.
The CNS encouraged personnel to allow the values of love, sacrifice, discipline, compassion and service to find practical expression in their professional responsibilities and everyday lives.
NAN reports that as part of the dedication, the CNS handed the keys to Kaigama, who then handed it to the Navy Acting Director, Roman Catholic Chaplaincy Services, Rev. Fr. Capt. Richmond Diala.(NAN)
