We’ll Participate in “alleviating the challenges” Christians Face: Knights Official in Katsina Catholic Diocese, Nigeria

Augustine went on to acknowledge with appreciation the efforts the Local Ordinary, Bishop Gerald Mamman Musa, is making among the people of God, saying, “We have seen that the faith of the people is growing with over 80% of the faithful being communicants.

“I want to urge them not to backslide but keep the faith strong in the Diocese,” the officials of the Knights of St. John in Katsina Diocese said, referring to the Laity.

In his homily during the April 29 celebration, Bishop Musa emphasized the need for all Christians to participate in the spreading of the Gospel.

“All Christians have a common vocation which is to live and share the gospel,” he said during the Eucharistic celebration at St. Martin de Porres Cathedral of Katsina Diocese.

He added, “Be agents of evangelisation in your families, work place, society and your respective Christian communities.” 

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According to the pioneer Bishop of Katsina Diocese, “the most effective method of evangelization today is not about carrying the bible and going from door to door to preach the gospel, but rather living an exemplary life.”

“You do not have to study philosophy, Christology, canon law, theology or spirituality to be able to share the word of God,” he emphasized, and continued, “One of the most effective methods of conveying the reasons for meeting Jesus is by sharing our personal experiences and narratives.” 

“This vocation, stemming from their baptism, is to spread the message of Christ's life, death, and resurrection, sharing how God is actively shaping their own lives,” the Local Ordinary of Katsina Diocese since last December said during the April 29 Thanksgiving Mass for newly initiated Brothers and Sisters of Commandery 667 Funtua, the Grand President, Kaduna Grand Commandery.

He called upon members of the Knights “to respond more eagerly to the great commission in which Jesus charged his disciples: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

“I will want the knights to discuss and decide on the areas where they wish to support the work of evangelisation and how they plan to do it,” the 53-year-old Nigerian Catholic Bishop said. 

He went on to highlight the areas the knights can choose from including “faith formation (catechesis), which is improving how we teach the bible and catechism in the church; reaching out to families and helping families to practice their faith amid the challenges of life.”

Other areas, Bishop Musa said, include “helping the people who are displaced by insecurity and banditry; supporting the education of the poorest of the poor; supporting the religious education of children in primary and secondary school.”

Abah Anthony John contributed to the writing of this story

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