Chida Hotel organises Lenten retreat for St Anthony Parish
The Chairman of the hotel, who is also the patron of the Most Holy Redeemer, St Anthony’s Parish, Sir Gabriel Agada, said the Lenten/ Revival Retreat 2010 which began on Thursday, March 25th and ended yesteday, March 27th at the Most Holy Redeemer, St Anthony’s Parish, Chida International Hotel Mass Centre (Open Ground), with the […]
The Chairman of the hotel, who is also the patron of the Most Holy Redeemer, St Anthony’s Parish, Sir Gabriel Agada, said the Lenten/ Revival Retreat 2010 which began on Thursday, March 25th and ended yesteday, March 27th at the Most Holy Redeemer, St Anthony’s Parish, Chida International Hotel Mass Centre (Open Ground), with the theme: Looking Unto Jesus, was aimed at bringing closer to the members of the parish the significance of lent.
“Lent is a time that Catholics have special reflections on their lives and their relationships with God. For us at this parish, it is to prove that there is one above, higher than us, and we must look unto him. At a time we are losing hope in the society, losing hope in our government and in our leaders, we should embrace God and strengthen our hope in this country. It is through the word of God that we can restore hope in ourselves, in our country and in our God. It is all about coming closer to God and having an extra-ordinary feeling,” he said.
He added that he felt fulfilled having organized the retreat for the entire parish. “I feel something great has happened. The retreat is just beginning but I believe that at the end all of us will go home relieved after carrying a heavy burden of sins in our hearts.”
Reverend Father Ben Gede who was the Retreat Director at the Lenten/Revival Retreat said the programme was coming at a time it was significant to have as a theme: Looking Unto Jesus, especially as it coincided with the Feast of Annunciation.
In a sermon he preached to mark the beginning of the retreat, Father Gede said, looking unto Jesus means hanging unto Jesus, trusting Jesus and having faith in Jesus. “If you believe in Jesus, you will lack nothing. Money can fail you, your father can fail you, your mother can fail you, your friends can fail you, your husband can fail you and your wife can fail you, but if anything fails you, and you look unto Jesus, he will never fail you,” he said.
The priest admonished the parishioners to pray to God through Jesus for whatever they needed, saying “Let thy will be done. Give it to me as you will.” He stressed that Christians do not have to try the patience of God when asking for their needs. Many of you may be looking for children, many of you may be looking for husbands and wives but you have to have faith in God. Look at Elizabeth, well passed menopause, she was able to conceive. So I command and decree today that whatever you are looking for, as we celebrate this feast today, you will get them in Jesus name.”
Earlier, the Parish Priest, Reverend Father Anthony Orjih, in a welcome address said the retreat in particular, and lent generally was observed to imitate Jesus who spent 40 days in the wilderness, after his baptism before he started his ministration.
“Those 40 days is the lent that the Catholic Church is observing. After lent is Easter and in order to prepare for the celebration of Easter, we must remind ourselves that we are nothing. In other words, we are sinners, and we seek forgiveness of our sins through fasting, praying and alms giving, indicating that we are dust and to dust shall we return,” he said.
Father Orjih stressed that the retreat was in preparation for Easter, which marks the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, while admonishing politicians to also observe lenten retreat. “I would want all politicians to rethink about our nothingness. If we bring ourselves low, we can never fall. If we are humble, this country can never go down again. So we all need a retreat.”
A parishioner at the retreat, Mrs Lovina Kayode, said she was happy to attend the retreat as it was the first time the parish would be holding a lenten retreat. She said it was a special opportunity for her to look inwards and see how she had lived her life. “How have I lived my life as a person, where have I erred and how do I go back to God,” emphasizing that she was looking unto God for forgiveness of sins.